Application 1
Submit: Theories and Theorists
This week, you will submit the Theories and Theorists assignment from Week 3.
The assignment:
Craft a 4- to 5-page paper in which you address the following instructions and questions:
Identify two key theories in your field.
Identify the theorist and sources of the theories (key articles or books) in your discipline.
Describe the basic tenets of these theories.
Analyze the relationship between the two theories that you have found.
Explain why these theories are so important to your discipline and how they relate to the research that you are interested in doing.
Include a reference list for the five “classics” or influential works you have found
Submit your Application by Day 7.
Please proceed to Application 2.
Assignment Turnitin – Week 5
Week 3: Concepts, Statements, and Forms of Theory
Introduction
“As you engage in theory, what you’re engaging in is a system for explaining how the world is the way it is.”
— Dr. Michael Quinn Patton, from the course media segment, “Theory”
If it were easy to explain the way the world is, then doctoral researchers may not be in very high demand. Likewise, the desire to grow a body of knowledge over the course of human history would seem misplaced. The world, however, is complex, and the systems designed to understand it, such as theory, are often intricate in order to sufficiently explain the world as it is.
In previous weeks, you discovered the research mind-set and ethics. Now, building on the concepts of paradigms and other basics of theory construction introduced in Week 1, you will learn the intricacies of theory over the next two weeks.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this week, you should be able to:
Analyze the role of theory in research
Become certified in protection of human subjects in research
Apply APA format and style to writing
Please proceed to the Learning Resources.
Resources
Discussion
hnin hnin aye:
Course Text: Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches
Chapter 3, “The Use of Theory”
This chapter, used in both the Discussion and Application 2, first focuses on variables and then explains the roles and uses of theory.
Course Text: A Primer in Theory Construction
Chapter 3, “Concepts”
Chapter 4, “Statements”
Chapter 5, “Forms of Theories”
These chapters, used in Application 2, work through the building blocks of theories.
Walden Library Online Resource:
The SAGE Encyclopedia of Social Science Research Methods
http://sage-ereference.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/socialscience/
The SAGE Encyclopedia of Qualitative Research Methods http://srmo.sagepub.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/view/sage-encyc-qualitative-research-methods/SAGE.xml
For the Discussion, you will look up the following terms in The SAGE Encyclopedia of Social Science Research Methods and The SAGE Encyclopedia of Qualitative Research Methods:
Induction
Deduction
Theoretical Frameworks
Theory
Media: Research Theory, Design, and Methods
“Theory” (22:54)
Click here to download a transcript of this video segment.
Dr. Patton discusses the “big picture” of theory. To view this video program, use the media player located at the top of this page.
Research Toolkit
Course Text: A Primer in Theory Construction
Chapter 1, “Introduction”
Chapter 2, “The Idea”
Course Text: Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association
Chapter 2, “Manuscript Structure and Content”
Quotations, (Chapter 6 – Section 6.21)
Reference Citations in Text, (Sections 6.22 – 6.32, Chapter 7)
Web Site: Center for Research Support: “Office of Student Research Support”
http://researchcenter.waldenu.edu/Office-of-Student-Research-Support.htm
Optional Resources
Course Text: Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association
Review the following sections:
“Writing Style”(sections 3.05 – 3,11)
“Grammar” (sections 3.18 – 3.23)
“Punctuation” (sections 4.01 – 4.11)
See the Suggested Bibliography for recommended books.
PowerPoint Presentation: Chapter 3, “The Use of Theory” (79 KB)
You are encouraged to save, view, and print this PowerPoint presentation drawn from the course text, Research Design. Tables and slides contained within the presentation may be helpful for completing the activities for this week.
Please proceed to the Discussion.
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