What distinguishes social science theory from other ways of looking at social phenomena?
1. Social scientific theory deals WITH WHAT IS, NOT WHAT SHOULD BE. Social science has to do with HOW THINGS ARE AND WHY AND NOT WHAT THEY OUGHT TO BE. 2. Social scientific theory aims to determine the logical and persistent patterns of regularity in social life. Lying behind that aim is the fundamental assumption that life is orderly, not totally chaotic or random.