THE ROLE OF THEORY IN

RESEARCH

Adrian B. Pardilla
Discussant
REVIEW

Definition of Research
 A process of scientific thinking that leads to the discovery or
establishment of new knowledge or truth.

 Careful critical, disciplined inquiry varying in technique and

method according to the nature and condition of the problem
identified, directed toward the clarification or resolution of a
problem. (Good, p.464)
 It is an open door to a better future. It is the source of faith that
man can go forward. It is the challenge that removes the threat
of stagnation and decay from all society (Good and Scates).

 Research is simply a refined technique of thinking employing

specialized tools, instruments and procedures in order to obtain a
more adequate solution of a problem that would be possible
under ordinary means (Crawford)
OUTLINE

Purpose and Functions of Research

 The preservation and improvement of the quality of life.

 The purpose of research is to serve man.
 The goal of the research is the good life.
Characteristics of a Good Research

 Research is systematic
 Research is controlled
 Research is empirical
 Research is analytic
 Research is original work
 Research is done by the expert
 Research is patient and unhurried activity
 Research require an effort-making capacity
 Research requires courage
 R- research oriented
E- efficient
 Characteristics of a Researcher
S- scientific
E- effective
 Intellectually curious
A- active
 Prudent
R- resourceful
 Healthy critic
C- creative
 Intellectually honest
H- honest
E- economical
R- religious
OUTLINE

 Some definitions of ‘theory’.

 Some characteristics of ‘theory’.
 The dynamic relationship between theory and research.
 Deductive theory
 Inductive theory
 Six main roles of theory in research
DEFINITIONS OF THEORY

 Theory is a model or framework for observation and understanding,

which shapes both what we see and how we see it. Theory allows the
researcher to make links between the abstract and the concrete; the
theoretical and the empirical; thought statements and observational
statements.

 Theory is a generalized statement that asserts a connection between

two or more types of phenomena – any generalized explanatory
principle.
DEFINITIONS OF THEORY

 Theory is a system of interconnected abstractions or ideas that

condenses and organizes knowledge about the world.

 Theory explains and predicts the relationship between variables.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THEORY

 Theory guides research and organizes its ideas.

 Theory becomes stronger as more supporting evidence is gathered;

and it provides a context for predictions.

 Theory has the capacity to generate new research.

 Theory is empirically relevant and always tentative.

THE DYNAMIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
THEORY AND RESEARCH

 Theory frames what we look at, how we think and look at it.

 It provides basic concepts and directs us to the important questions.

 It suggests ways for us to make sense of research data.

 Theory enables us to connect a single study to the immense base of

knowledge to which other researchers contribute.

 It helps a researcher see the forest instead of just a single tree.

THE DYNAMIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
THEORY AND RESEARCH

 Theory increases a researcher’s awareness of interconnections and of

the broader significance of data.

 Theories are, by their nature, abstract and provide a selective and one-
sided account of the many-sided concrete social world.

 Theory allows the researcher to make links between the abstract and
the concrete, the theoretical and the empirical, thought statements
and observational statements etc.
THE DYNAMIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
THEORY AND RESEARCH

 There is a two-way relationship between theory and research. Social

theory informs our understanding of issues, which, in turn, assists us in
making research decisions and making sense of the world.

 Theory is not fixed; it is provisional, open to revision and grows into more
accurate and comprehensive explanations about the make-up and
operation of the social world.
THE DYNAMIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
THEORY AND RESEARCH

Theory makes the most significant progress by interacting with research

findings (empirical data). In adopting a theory-based approach to
research, the researcher must adopt the following assumptions:

 Research problems must fit within a larger, logically consistent

conceptual framework which incorporates research done to date

 Variables useful in the explanation and prediction of phenomena

become the ‘significant’ facts
THE DYNAMIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
THEORY AND RESEARCH

 To work towards objectivity, empirical testing and replication by others

is essential.

 Research findings must be situated within, the theoretical framework in

order to identify further research which can continue the process of
theory confirmation.
DEDUCTIVE THEORY

In a deductive approach, researchers use theory to guide the design

of a study and the interpretation of results. As researchers continue to
conduct empirical research in testing a theory, they develop confidence
that some parts of it are true. Researchers may modify some propositions
of a theory or reject them if several well-conducted studies have negative
findings. A theory’s core propositions and central tenets are more difficult
to test and are refuted less often. In a slow process, researchers may
decide to abandon or change a theory as the evidence against it
mounts over time and cannot be logically reconciled.
INDUCTIVE THEORY

 Inductive theorizing begins with a few assumptions and broad orienting

concepts. Theory develops from the ground up as the researchers
gather and analyze the data. Theory emerges slowly, concept by
concept, and proposition by proposition, in a specific area. Over time,
the concepts and empirical generalizations emerge and mature. Soon,
relationships become visible and researchers weave knowledge from
different studies into more abstract theory. Empirical generalizations
posit the most basic relationship between concepts.
SIX MAIN ROLES OF THEORY IN RESEARCH

1. Theory provides significant guidelines and trails for the conduct of

research by pointing to areas that are most likely to be fruitful, that is,
areas in which meaningful relationships among variables are likely to be
found.
 2. Increase the meaningfulness of the findings of a particular study by
helping us to perceive them as special cases of the operation of a set
of more general or abstract statements of relationships rather than as
isolated bits of empirical information.
3. It affords a more secure ground for prediction than do these empirical
findings by themselves.
 4. An empirical finding as a proposition referring to certain concrete
contextual manifestation of a phenomenon does not afford a basis for
drawing diverse inferences about what will follow, its reformulation or
revamping in theoretic terms affords a secure basis for arriving at the
inferences about the varied positive consequences in areas quite
remote from the central area to which the given finding relates.
5. In affording broader meanings to empirical findings the theory also
attests to their truth.
 6. Theory helps us to identify gaps in our knowledge and seek to bridge
them up with intuitive, impressionistic or extensional generalizations.
REFERENCES

 http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/social-research/6-main-roles-
of-theory-for-research/92818
 https://www.uwc.ac.za/Students/Postgraduate/Documents/The
%20role%20of%20theory%20in%20research.pdf