Theme 2: Theory

(566 words)

1. Theory is something that a method for research often builds on. It is supposed to be a framework, a systematic statement of rules or principles to be followed. This can correspond to known facts that have been confirmed by observation or experiments. A common view is that theory provides explanation and predictions for deriving logical argumentation for how something works. Theory can also be used for predictions or to base assumptions on which can then be tested. Theory can be something that new findings originate from and those new findings can then in term be theory. In physical or natural sciences, theory can be seen as what provides explanations and predictions for statements that can be tested against observations in the real world.

Theory can be divided into five different types of theory; 1. Analysis: says what is. 2. Explanation: says what is, how, why, when, where. 3. Prediction: says what is and what will be. 4. Explanation and Prediction: says what is, how, why, when, where, and what will be. 5. Design and action: says how to do something.

For example, sometimes theory can have either the aim to make explanations or the aim of prediction but at the expense of one another. It is for instance possible to achieve precise predictions without having the explanatory reasons for why the outcome occurs. An example is given; that it is possible to predict from the appearance of clouds that it will start raining without having understanding of how precipitation occurs. These different types of theories are important to address depending on what is aimed to be achieved.

It is easy to believe that theory can be any factual statement but theory must however present some logic that presents why thing are as such. Thus when a reference is made to what has been written; it has to include some logic that explains the statement. Data in itself isn’t always theory as such either but theory is rather why or how the data is or is going to be observed.

2.

Journal: Computers & Education Volume 52, Issue 3, April 2009Impact factor: 2.621

Article: Impact of media richness and flow on e-learning technology acceptance.

Source: Web of knowledge; web of science.

The major theory used in this paper is founded on previous advances in research related to what is called the technology acceptance model, flow theory and media richness theory along with hypotheses related to this research. They study this model and then makes the assumption that the use of this model is no longer sufficient to study the intended use of e-learning systems due to advances in research which shows that an increase in sophistication by computer users. They hereby use the fourth type of theory; Explanation and prediction. They provide explanations and tests done with the current technology acceptance model and they also provide predictions with casual explanations. They don’t however say how to do something in the theory part, only after the method and results are carried out, so they’re not falling into the fifth category which is design and action.

3. The benefits of using, in this case the selected method “Explanation and prediction” is that the work is delineated for examine a specific area and so the content can go into great detail and has a very clear definition of what the article is aiming to convey. However, the limitation of this could be that if the prediction already made in the theory turns out to be incorrect or faulty the main intention of the research can be rendered meaningless or with inferior interest.