In sociology, a theory is a set of logically interconnected statements, concepts, and propositions that seeks to explain problems, actions, behaviour, social phenomena, or the relationships between them in a systematic and coherent way. Theories provide frameworks for understanding the social world, offering explanations for why certain things happen, how they happen, and under what conditions. They are developed through observation, research, and logical reasoning, and they can be broad in scope, attempting to explain large-scale social patterns (grand theories), or more focused, addressing specific aspects of social life (middle-range theories). Sociological theories guide research by suggesting questions to ask, concepts to consider, and relationships to examine, and they are constantly being tested, refined, and sometimes revised or replaced as new evidence emerges and our understanding of the social world evolves.