1. WELCOME
HEIDI VAN DER WESTHUIZEN Cell:

2. CHAPTER 2 ROLE OF THEORY IN RESEARCH

3. Tutorials PLEASE: Turn off your cell phone Be on time for the class
Attend regularly
Come prepared

4. Dates of tutorials
4 SEPTEMBER 2012 TUESDAY 8H30 – 10H30 5 SEPTEMBER 2012 WEDNESDAY 11H00 13H00 6 SEPTEMBER 2012 THURSDAY 8H30 – 10H30 7 SEPTEMBER 2012 FRIDAY 8H30 – 10H30

5. Overview Ch 1: Strategies of discovery
Ch 2: The role of theory in research

6. Theory definitions Theory is
A conceptual framework that provides an explanation of certain occurrences or phenomena
Systematic and gives precise definitions
2. Concepts
Identify and describe phenomena
Just as a language consists of words, so does a theory consist of concepts

7. HOW ARE CONCEPTS USED IN THEORY
Identify and describe phenomena
Is the starting point of a theory
Together, these clusters of concepts build the sentences of theory
Abstract concepts – give the big picture, but not much detail
Concrete concepts – presents a close up view and focus on details

8. THE SCOPE OF THEORY
Refers to how much the theory explains, or how many different contexts the theory can explain.
The scope of theory is linked to level of abstraction.
The higher the level of abstraction (the big picture), the more the theory can be generalized.
The wider the scope of the theory, the more it can be generalized

9. GENERALISABILITY OF SCOPE OF THEORY
Empirical generalisations
Classify, summarise and organise observations
2. Middle range theory
Organise empirical observations in a way that it explains the relationships between them in more general terms
3. Theoretical perspectives
Gives an overall explanation
A particular study only provides partial evidence to support perspectives

10. REASONING PROCESSES WE USE TO DEVELOP THEORIES
DEDUCTION
INDUCTION

11. THE LINK BETWEEN THEORY AND RESEARCH
The relationship is reciprocal: empirical studies are based on theory, and theory are based on empirical studies.
Theory guides research, while the information obtained through research builds theory.

12. DEDUCTION AND INDUCTION
Both are reasoning processes we use to develop theories
Deduction
Going from general to specific
Using general principles to suggest specific outcomes
3. Induction
Using a number of specific observations to formulate general principles

13. The planning of research
Deciding on a research topic
Conducting a literature review
Specifying a research question
Formulating a hypothesis
Operationalising the concepts

14. Deciding on a research topic
Choice of a research topic is influenced by:
Social significance – is this research going to help to solve a problem (practical relevance)
Scientific significance – is this research going to help to develop theories
Personal interest

15. Conducting the literature review
To narrow down the topic into a research question (to see what the literature says about it)
Reviewing the literature means that researcher reads both theory and the research it has generated
Literature review:
Is a source of questions
Identifies the gaps in knowledge
Shows potential pitfalls
Helps us avoid unnecessary duplication

16. Conducting the literature review
4. Literature review plays a crucial role in the feasibility and credibility of research 5. Sources of information where researchers publish their work: journals, books, dissertations, research reports and conference papers

17. Specifying a research question in quantitative research
Topics are formulated as clearly constructed research questions (what & why)
Propositions are refined into specific researchable statements, namely hypothesis
Key constructs are operationalised
The aim is to establish causal relationships between variables
Causal explanations identify a cause effect relationship between phenomena

18. Definitons
Hypotheses: a testable statement about the relationship between two variables
Variable: a concept that can change, take on more than one value. These values can change quantitatively or qualitatively
Operationalise: procedure to make an abstract construct empirically observable (make concepts measureable)
Causality: that one thing leads to another, that the presence, absence or change of one variable, determines the presence, absence or change of another variable. (to identify a cause-effect relationship between two phenomena)

19. Specifying a research question in quantitative research
5. Conditions needed for causal explanations:
There should be a time delay between the cause and the effect
The change should be linked to the cause and the effect
All possible factors influencing the relationship are taken into consideration
The rationale for the proposed relationship between the variables should be based on careful reasoning

20. Framing a hypotheses
A tentative statement of the relationship between two or more variables.
Informed guess
Must be specific, precise and clear (unambiguous)
It is a formal statement related to a specific context
Enables researchers to gather info to empirically determine whether the proposed relationship applies or not.

21. Variables
Dependent variable: the variable that is influenced or changed, (the effect)
Independent variable: the variable that influences or changes the dependent variable (the cause)
Direction of the relationship:
Positive relationship – 2 variables change in the same direction
Negative relationship – 2 variables change in opposite directions
Intervening variable: a variable that is the effect of one variable and the cause of another variable

22. Operationalising concepts
Making our concepts measurable
Transforming the theoretical concept into an empirical variable
A complex concept is operatonalised by identfying all its dimensions
These dimensions are called indicators
An indicator is an observable measure of a variable or concept
Example p70

23. EXAMPLE
Hypothesis:
Social class is positively related to political conservatism
(the higher a person’s socio economic status, the more conservative they will be)

24. EXAMPLE Abstract concepts Social class (ses)
Political conservatism (how conservative they are)
Concrete indicators
Social class
Level of education, income, occupation, prestige
Political conservatism
Opposed to welfare provision, supports party X, opposed to certain things

25. CHAPTER 3: SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH PREPARATION Pp 80 - 105
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CHAPTER 3: SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH PREPARATION Pp