THEORY
A theory is not a…
o Truth or fact
▪ Theories are prepositions of what may be an explanation of our behavior
o Philosophy
▪ Philosophy deals with ought and should, it includes morality or suggestions
on how to live someone's lives
▪ With theories, what was, what is, and what should be and not the ought
and the should
o Speculation
▪ Theories are based on empirical observations
o Hypothesis
▪ Hypothesis are educated guesses. A prediction specific enough for its
validity to be tested through the use of scientific methods.
▪ Hypothesis is generated according to theories
o Taxonomy
▪ Taxonomy are classification of things according to their natural
relationships
▪ With taxonomy it may evolve to theories
…but a theory is related to these concepts
o When we propose an idea, our goal is to get closer to what the truth is.
THEORY
- A set of related assumptions that allows scientists to use logical deductive reasoning to
formulate testable hypothesis.
o Logical in a sense that they are consistent within itself.
o Hypotheses are not components of a theory, rather they flow from it
o It is deductive because creative scientists start from general idea and eventually
deduce specific hypothesis to be tested.
CRITERIA OF A GOOD THEORY
Don’t forget that a theory…
1. Generates research
o We formulate hypothesis from it
2. Is falsifiable
o It is testable whether our assumptions are something that we can see in reality
3. Organizes data
o Theories have concepts and it is organized
4. Guides action
o When a theory is proposed, it can lead to a change our behavior
5. Is internally consistent
o In a way how data is organized, and how it is consistent with the concepts
A theory is not a…
o Truth or fact
▪ Theories are prepositions of what may be an explanation of our behavior
o Philosophy
▪ Philosophy deals with ought and should, it includes morality or suggestions
on how to live someone's lives
▪ With theories, what was, what is, and what should be and not the ought
and the should
o Speculation
▪ Theories are based on empirical observations
o Hypothesis
▪ Hypothesis are educated guesses. A prediction specific enough for its
validity to be tested through the use of scientific methods.
▪ Hypothesis is generated according to theories
o Taxonomy
▪ Taxonomy are classification of things according to their natural
relationships
▪ With taxonomy it may evolve to theories
…but a theory is related to these concepts
o When we propose an idea, our goal is to get closer to what the truth is.
THEORY
- A set of related assumptions that allows scientists to use logical deductive reasoning to
formulate testable hypothesis.
o Logical in a sense that they are consistent within itself.
o Hypotheses are not components of a theory, rather they flow from it
o It is deductive because creative scientists start from general idea and eventually
deduce specific hypothesis to be tested.
CRITERIA OF A GOOD THEORY
Don’t forget that a theory…
1. Generates research
o We formulate hypothesis from it
2. Is falsifiable
o It is testable whether our assumptions are something that we can see in reality
3. Organizes data
o Theories have concepts and it is organized
4. Guides action
o When a theory is proposed, it can lead to a change our behavior
5. Is internally consistent
o In a way how data is organized, and how it is consistent with the concepts
