Good theory characteristics Essay
Introduction
There are many things that are needed to be taken into the consideration if one talks about theories. It is very easy to come up with an idea or propose a theory but in order to validate it or consider it a good theory (DiMaggio, 2012). There are following principles that are needed to be looked at. The good theory is the one that needs to be proven true with the passage of time it must comply with the law of the nature (DiMaggio, 2012).
Characteristics of a Good Theory
The fact of the of the matter is that whenever there is any phenomenon that is brought into the observation, the important thing that is must be explained on the basis of the solid factual proof's and the effort must be made to make sure that logic and principles are followed during the course of the good theory (Veenhoven, 2013). The other thing that is needed to be taken care off in order for the theory to be considered a "good" one is that it must stand the test of the times and it can be proved with some sort of an experiment (Veenhoven, 2013). On the contrary, if the theory is nullified with the passage of time, then it is automatic to assume that this theory is unnatural and cannot be deemed true (Veenhoven, 2013). The other thing about the good theory is that it should be predictable and the course of action that is predicted by the theory has to be the same just about every time (Veenhoven, 2013).
That is only possible if any theory can be tested with the passage of time (Veenhoven, 2013). The idea regarding the predictability is that the results that are an outcome of any experiment can reproduce any time (Veenhoven, 2013). Other thing that has to be kept in mind is the theory is something that can only explain a cause and it cannot really explain away an affect is bound to happen at the first place (Veenhoven, 2013). It is the statement of the fact rather than a statement of the likelihood (DiMaggio, 2012). The good theory is the one that can be revised and refined with the passage of time (Veenhoven, 2013).
Why Some Theories are More Popular
Now, the way the mainstream media has went on and regarding the way human imagination works, there is always this tendency among human beings to look at the probabilities and assume and theorize about something (Veenhoven, 2013). And if that idea is as per the common sentiment, then there is all the likelihood that it is going to increase with the passage of time, so these theories gain popularity with the passage of time (DiMaggio, 2012). Some theories are popular due to the fact that they are sensational in their approach and due to that, people like to talk about them and reproduce them despite the fact that they have been proved invalid with the passage of time (Veenhoven, 2013).