ABSTRACT
This part introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters. The part discusses conceptual partitionings of existentially given and socially influenced variables inasmuch as both types of variables can explain social phenomena and the latter can also be explained by social phenomena. It introduces a classification of twelve types of sociological explanatory variables, all of which seem necessary for a complete sociological explanation. This classification identifies two types of explanatory variables that might well be linked to "individual psychology" and two that might be linked to "social psychology," but eight altogether non psychological types are also identified. Only four causal relations are possible between any two variables: The first influences the second; the second influence the first; they influence each other equally; neither influences the other. The part also introduces a generic typology of such variables. It suggests a few simple models of testable relations within and between causal hierarchies.
