Is It Possible "the Correct" Rendering of Improper Concepts?

The development of the conceptual apparatus within any scientific discipline reflects the sustained efforts to study its object and subject matter, indicative of the growing body of knowledge produced. The social sciences, including economics, are no exception, though they present unique challenges due to the specific nature of their objects and subjects of study. Additionally, the interaction of various research programs (RPs) within the social sciences contributes to these distinctive characteristics. This article aims to analyze these factors to characterize the development of the conceptual apparatus for studying economic institutions. The analysis assesses how well these efforts adhere to methodological standards and established norms of scientific research. The study reveals that different RPs in institutional research vary significantly in their emphasis on developing a precise and rigorous conceptual framework, as well as in their consideration of results from other institutional RPs. An illustrative example is analyzed, where a researcher’s attempt to justify the possibility of the existence of a "single correct" understanding of the concept is scrutinized. The fact that the analyzed concept belongs to the category of “essentially contested” was not taken into account in the analyzed attempt.