Heuristic and Empirical Typologies: A Job for Factor Analysis
Robert F. Winch · American Sociological Review · 1947
T HIS paper has two purposes: (a) to differentiate between what are called and typologies, and (b) to show how the empirical typology may be derived and how it may be utilized. It scarcely needs saying that the purpose of the typology, like that of the common noun in general, is to enable the observer to perceive order in the infinite complexity of the universe. For example, the abstracting of fluids from the human body as a whole, the abstracting of blood from the other bodily fluids, and the typing of blood enable both understanding and control. Typologies are created by the process of noting homogeneous attributes in heterogeneous phenomena; they are created for the purpose of discovering systems. In terms of function and technique of derivation typologies may be classified as heuristic or empirical.' As contrasted with an empirical typology, a heuristic typology shows the following characteristics: (a) insofar as it is distinguishable from theory, it is deduced from theory; (b) it is constructed for the purpose of enhancing the vision of the researcher (i.e., by facilitating the statement of hypotheses, the conception of testing situations, the ordering of observations); (c) it represents a voluntary distortion of empirical phenomenon by positing extreme forms of relevant characteristics;