A Seminar on Research and Theory

8/8/2019 A Seminar on Research and Theory

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RESEARCH AND THEORY

RESEARCH-

According to Oxford enclyclopedic English dictionarya) the systematic investigation into the study of materials, sources etc.in order

to establish facts and reach new conclusions. b) An endeavour to discover new or collect old facts etc.by scientific study of a subject or by a course of critical investigation.

( D K Lal Das, 2008) “Any study to create new knowledge or aims to increaseexisting fund of- may it be through observation or by some other methods iscalled as research, if it takes into account the baiss”.Kerlinger piointed out in a technical way, research is systematic, contolled,empirical and critical investigation of hypothetical propositions about

presumed relations among natural phenomenon”.

CHARACTERISTICS OF RESEARCH ( Williman,2009,page11)

1) Gaining experience is an ucontrolled and hazard activity, while research issystematic and controlled.

2) Resoning can operate in an abstact world, divorced from reality, whileresearch is empirical and turns to experience and the world around us for validation.

3) Unlike experience and reason, reaearch aims to be self correcting. The process of research involves rigorously teting and results obtained, andmethods and results are open to public scrutiny and criticism.

TYPES OF RESERCH( Williman page 112)

a) Comparative b) Descriptivec) Correlationd) Experimentale) Evaluationf) Actiong) Ethnogenich) Feministi) And Cultural

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THEORY

A very hyped term, there is little agreement among social scientist on what thery is ( D K Lal 2008) “ a theory refers to the relationship between facts or the ordering of them insame meaningful ways”.

According to Kerlinger “a theory is a set of interrelated constructs, definitions and propositions that presents a systematic view of phenomena by specific by specificrelations among variables, with the purpose of explaining and predicting the

phenomenon”.

By taking the above two definitions we could conclude that a theory is a systematicexplanation for the observed facts and their interrelations.

The relation between research and theory can be stated

I. The initial task for a researcher is the search for theory. Theorydevelopment relies on research and research relies on theory. Therelationship is a dialatic.

II. Theory determines what data should be collected and the research findingchallenges to the acceptance of the theory.

III. Research is the method used to collect data needed for the theory.

IV. If the purpose is theory testing, the theory dictates the data to be collected.

V. Theories are generally classified and as descriptive, correlational, andexperimental. The research designs that generate and test these types of theories are generate and tested by the research design.

VI. Descriptive theories describe or classify specific dimensions or characteristics of individuals, groups, situations, or events by summarizingthe commonalities found in discrete observations, and descriptive researchmay or may not use an empirical method. Non-empirical methods include

philosophic and historic inquiries.

VII. Empirical descriptive research encompasses case studies, surveys, groundedtheory, ethnographies, and phenomenologic studies.

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VIII. Relational theories specify relations between dimensions or characteristicsof individuals, groups, situations, or events and these Relational theories aredeveloped by co-relational research.

IX. Explanatory theories move beyond relational statements to the prediction of precise relationships between dimensions or characteristics of a phenomenon or differences between groups. This type of theory addressescause and effect, the “why” of changes in a phenomenon. Explanatorytheories are generated and tested by experimental research.

X. The choice of a research design depends on the question asked and thecurrent state of theory development. If little is known about the

phenomenon to be investigated, descriptive theory-generating research isneeded.

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A Seminar on Research and Theory