A strategy for testing the empirical adequacy of macro‐sociological theories

Abstract

We suggest testing macro‐sociological theories in a research strategy based on computer simulation. The verbal statement of the theory is transformed into a mathematical model, which is then run against a variety of time serial data sets to test its empirical adequacy. Alternative hypotheses may be tested in simulated experiments on the model. An example, applying this procedure to a theory of normative regulation, demonstrates its feasibility. A final section answers some of the recurrent objections that have been raised to the proposed strategy.