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International Conference on Conceptual Structures

ICCS 2001: Conceptual Structures: Broadening the Base pp 169–186Cite as

Mathematical Support for Empirical Theory Building

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Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNAI,volume 2120))

Abstract

Empirical theory building in the human and social sciences may be mathematically supported by methods of Formal Concept Analysis which is the main theme of this paper. Those theories are considered which can be formalized by a contextual attribute logic. The empirical data are coded by formal contexts whose attribute logic can be used for representing scientific theories. Specific formal contexts, namely conceptual scales, are representing aspects of a theory. Their aggregation by the semiproduct and by the apposition yield a more complete representation of the theory. The gap between the theoretical and the empirical side becomes apparent by comparing the semiproduct and the apposition representation. In an iterative process of theory building this gap should be diminished. Specific support is given by algebraic representations of formal contexts which are used to represent scientific theories.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fachhochschule Köln, Fachbereich Bibliotheks-und Informationswesen, Claudiusstr. 1, D-50678, Köln, Germany

    Selma Strahringer

  2. Technische Universität Darmstadt, Fachbereich Mathematik Schlossgartenstraße 7, D-64289, Darmstadt, Germany

    Rudolf Wille

  3. Jelmoli AG, Information Systems, Postfach 3020, CH-8021, Zürich, Switzerland

    Uta Wille

Authors
  1. Selma Strahringer
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  2. Rudolf Wille
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  3. Uta Wille
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Computer Science Department, TH N-351, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL, 35899, USA

    Harry S. Delugach

  2. Institut für Angewandte Informatik und Formale Beschreibungsverfahren (AIFB), Universität Karlsruhe (TH), 76128, Karlsruhe, Germany

    Gerd Stumme

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© 2001 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Strahringer, S., Wille, R., Wille, U. (2001). Mathematical Support for Empirical Theory Building. In: Delugach, H.S., Stumme, G. (eds) Conceptual Structures: Broadening the Base. ICCS 2001. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 2120. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-44583-8_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-44583-8_13

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-42344-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-44583-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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