Theory plays the same role in econo

Theory plays the same role in economics, geography ,and economic geography，notwithstanding differences in disciplinary goals and in the levels of theoretical development achieved. The objective of theory ,whatever its content，is to reduce a hodgepodge of (各种各样的) details to an intelligible pattern of consistent relationships among phenomena. The development of theory requires pre-selection of which characteristics are to be examined, which relationships are to be explored，which aspects of total reality are to be explained，and what assumptions are to be made.The first beginnings of theory may be prompted by casual observation and experience. In these first probes toward theory ，description of facts makes up the preponderant share of the effort. Increasing sophistication and rigor leads to a growing concern with testing tentative theories using carefully selected data and a variety of statistical techniques. In thee later developments the subject matter of a discipline becomes increasingly theoretical and deductive，rather than empirical and descriptive.