The document presents a comprehensive overview of the definition and role of theory in research, emphasizing that theories are systems of interconnected concepts that aim to explain or predict phenomena. It discusses the process of theorizing, the significance of concepts as building blocks of theory, and the relationship between prediction and understanding. Furthermore, it highlights that effective theory building is essential for expanding knowledge and discovering truth in scientific inquiry.

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2. Theory and its role in research
Presented to:
sir Jehangir khan
Presented by:
Muhammad Inam.
Presentation date:
13/03/2015

3. Definition of theory:
• Theory is actually a conceptual scheme by
which the relevant phenomena are
systematized , classified & interrelated.
OR
• A set of concept and principle about a
phenomena which explain or predict the
phenomena.

4. • “A theory is an organized body of concepts and
principles intended to explain a particular
phenomenon”.

5. • What is a theory? The word is difficult to
define. It is easier to say what a (good)
theory does.
• It describes reality, explains reality, and, if
possible, tells how we can change reality.
Thus, it guides our empirical research and
our interventions in practice.

6. • theory refers to a particular kind of explanation. Leedy and
Ormrod (2005: 4) state: “A theory is an organized body of
concepts and principles intended to explain a particular
phenomenon”. Thus, theories explain how and why
something functions the way it does (Johnson &
Christensen, 2007: 7). As pointed out by Boss, Doherty,
LaRossa, Schumm, & Steinmetz (1993: 20): “Theorizing is
the process of systematically formulating and organizing
ideas to understand a particular phenomenon. Thus, a
theory is the set of interconnected ideas that emerge from
this process”.

7. • The purpose of science concerns the expansion of
knowledge, the discovery of truth and to make predictions.
Theory building is the means by which the basic
researchers hope to achieve this purpose .A scientist poses
questions like: What produces inflammation? Does
student-teacher interaction influence students’
performance? In both these questions there is the element
of prediction i.e. that if we do such and such, then so and
so will happen. In fact we are looking for explanation for
the issue that has been raised in these questions.
Underlying the explanation is the whole process through
which the phenomenon emerges, and we would like to
understand the process to reach prediction.

8. • Prediction and understanding are the
two purposes of theory. the first goal
allows the theorist to predict the
behavior or characteristics of one
phenomenon from the knowledge of
another phenomenon’s
characteristics.

9. • Concepts:
Concepts are the building block of a theory. Concepts abstract
reality. That is, concepts are expressed in
• words, letters, signs, and symbols that refer to various
events or objects.
• Concepts, however, may vary in degree of abstraction and
we can put them in a ladder of
• abstraction, indicating different levels.

10. • Theorists translate their conceptualization of reality
into abstract ideas. Thus theory deals with
• abstraction. Things are not the essence of theory;
ideas are. Concepts in isolation are not theories.
• Only when we explain how concepts relate to other
concepts we begin to construct theories.

11. • Propositions
• Concepts are the basic units of theory development.
However, theories require an understanding of the
relationship among concepts. Thus, once reality is
abstracted into concepts, the scientist is interested in the
relationship among various concepts. Propositions are
statements concerned with the logical relationships
among concepts. A proposition explains the logical linkage
among certain concepts by asserting a universal connection
between concepts.

12. Thank you