Introductory Sociology CLEP Prep Practice Exam

A theory is a set of ideas because it is a systematic and logical explanation of a phenomenon or event. It is a framework that helps us understand a particular concept or phenomenon. While facts, values, and data may be used to support a theory, they are not the same as a theory. Facts are pieces of information that can be proven or verified, values are personal beliefs or principles, and data is a collection of information. Therefore, they do not encompass the definition of a theory. Only ideas can be formed into a theory.