Media Theory 13/09/18
1. THE WORLD OF THEORY &
ACCEPTED VIEWS OF THE
MEDIA.
What is theory?
•Definition 1: A collection of propositions to illustrate the principles of a subject.
•Definition 2: A contemplative and ration type of abstract or generalazing thinking or the
results of such thinking.
•Definition 3: A formal statement of the rules on which a subject of study is based.
•Definition 4: A summary of a hypothesis or group of hypotheses that have been supported
with repeated testing.
Theory is an abstraction separated from a concrete case.
The importance of theory
•The starting point is innovation. To have an innovative idea.
•Ideas lead us toward their habitat, the world of abstraction and theory.
•Theory is the heart of science.
•Theories generate the experiments which test facts.
•Scientists are imbued with theories about social reality before they decide study it.
How is theory generated?
“Nonfactual” theoretical environment ----------------------------------- “Factual”/Empirical environment
