Theories are ideas that explain a phenomenon
Only was as humans is for us to theorize
Theories evolve from questions
Theories are partial truths, not completely right or wrong
Theories strive for Universality (laws) through replicability and validity
"The only truth is the search for truth"
A hierarchy to help explain Theory (each one contains the one below it):
Paradigm (a meta-theory) (see Thomas Kuhn)
Theory (tested hypothesis / idea)
Public Opinion (hypotheses)
Ideology (propositions)
Myth (stereotypes)
CIS is Interdisciplinary, and consists of many fragmented disciplines (focus on narrow, fragmented ideas within a discipline). CIS is typical of the social sciences- it is in need of integration of the fragments (see Michel Foucault)
The disciplinary approach is functionalist- where you wear the blinders of a single discipline. This looses sight of other factors, but sharpens the image within the range of sight of the paradigm of the discipline.
The multidisciplinary approach is a normative approach that involves all aspects in decisions and attempts to unify different disciplines.