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Speculation and empirical observation are the 2 Bakit ang daming theories!!
essential cornerstones of theory building.
Alternate theories exist because theorists
It is theory who holds these observations make speculations from a particular
together and points to directions of point of view. Theorists must be as
possible research. objective as possible when gathering
data, but their decisions as to what data
are collected and how these data are
interpreted are personal ones.
Theory vs Hypothesis All theories are also reflection of their
Hypothesis: an educated guess or prediction authors personal backgrounds,
specific enough for its validity to be tested childhood experiences, philosophy of
through the use of the scientific method. life, etc.
Usefulness of a theory depends on its
A theory is too general to lend itself to direct ability to generate research and to
verification, but a single comprehensive theory explain research data and other
is capable of generating thousands of observations.
hypotheses.
Useful theory need not be consistent Are people doomed to live miserable,
with other theories, but it must be conflicted, and troubled lives or can they
consistent with itself. change and grow into psychologically
Its limitations of scope are carefully healthy happy fully functioning human
defined and it does not offer beings?
explanations that lie beyond that scope.
Causality vs Teleology
It also uses language in a consistent
manner: it does not use the same term to Causality --- behavior is a function of
mean 2 different thing, nor use 2 past experiences
separate terms to mean one thing. Teleology --- an explanation of behavior
A good theory will use concepts & terms in terms of future goals or purposes
that have been clearly & operationally Do they act as they do because of what
defines. has happened in the past? Or because
Operational definition one that they have certain expectations of what
defines units in terms of observable will happen in the future?
events or behaviors that can be
measured. Conscious vs unconscious determinants of
behavior
Parsimonious
Are people aware of what they are doing
When 2 theories are equal in their ability and why theyre doing it? Or do
to generate research, etc., the simpler unconscious forces impinge on them and
one is preferred: Law of Parsimony. drive them to act without awareness of
these underlying forces?