Application
2 (My field is Social Psychology)
Theories and Theorists
Theory is a natural extension
of the philosophy of science, and theoretical frameworks underpin any and every
research design and study. For this assignment, you will familiarize yourself
with the main theories and theorists in your field so that you may become more
conversant in your discipline’s theoretical foundations and research
approaches.
To prepare for this Application:
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Review Chapters 3, 4, and 5 in
the course text, A Primer in Theory Construction.
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Review Chapter 3 in the course
text, Research Design.
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Using the library, and any
other resources at your disposal, discover the important theories in your
field. What are they?
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Identify the origin of the
theories, their authors or developers, and the source material where you can
find these theories.
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Analyze and assess the
relationship between two theories that you have found. Does one expand upon or
reference the other?
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Identify at least five
“classics,” or influential works, in your discipline. Why are they
important? How much are they referenced today?
The assignment:
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Craft a 4- to 5-page paper in
which you address the following instructions and questions:
o Identify two key theories in your field.
o Identify the theorist(s) and sources of the theories (key articles
or books) in your discipline.
o Describe the basic tenets of these theories.
o Analyze and assess the relationship between the two theories you
have found.
o Explain why these theories are so important to your discipline and
how they relate to the research you are interested in doing.
o Include a reference list for the five “classics” or
influential works you have found.
Resources:
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Required
Resources
course Text: Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and
Mixed Methods Approaches
o 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.
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Course Text: A Primer in
Theory Construction
o Chapter 3, “Concepts”
o Chapter 4, “Statements”
o Chapter 5, “Forms of Theories”
These chapters, used in Application 2, work through the building blocks of
theories.
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Walden
Library Online Resource:
o The SAGE Encyclopedia of Social Science Research
Methods
http://sage-ereference.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/socialscience/
o 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
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Media: Research Theory,
Design, and Methods
o “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
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Course Text: A Primer in
Theory Construction
o Chapter 1, “Introduction”
o Chapter 2, “The Idea”
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Course Text: Publication
Manual of the American Psychological Association
o Chapter 2, “Manuscript Structure and Content”
o Quotations, (Chapter 6 – Section 6.21)
o Reference Citations in Text, (Sections 6.22 – 6.32, Chapter 7)
Web Site: Center for Research
Support: “Office of Student Research Support”
