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PHD Theory

1. For PhD Researchers 01 July 2011 Dr Palitha Edirisingha University of

Leicester, UK. Theory in a PhD study

2. Gilbert, N. (2008) Researching Social Life , 3rd Edn. London: Sage. Bryman, A.(2008) Social Research Methods, 3rd Edn. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Punch,K. F. (2006) Developing Effective Research Proposals , 2nd Edn . London: Sage.White, P. (2009) Developing Research Questions: A guide for social scientists :Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. References Carey, M. (2009) The Social WorkDissertation: Using Small-Scale Qualitative Methodology. Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill and Open University Press.

3. 'Theories are nets to catch what we call 'the world': to rationalise, explain andmaster it' Popper 1959: 2002, pp. 37-38, in White, 2009, p. 23

4. 'Characterising the nature of the link between theory and research is by nomeans a straightforward matter' Bryman, 2008, p. 6

5. '"theory is a contested term. While many people write about"theory", they are not always referring to exactly the same thing, ...'White, 2009, p. 23

6. Knowledge : epistemology, ontology Data collection and analytical strategies :e.g., grounded theory Role : deductive OR inductive Research paradigm :interpretivism, positivism Theory in ....

7. What form of theory?Whether the purpose of data is to test or to build theoriesBryman, 2008, p. 6

8. Types of theory Grand theories Middle range theories (Merton 1967) Literatureacting as proxy for theory (Bryman, 2008)

9. (Bryman, 2008, p. 6-7) Grand theories Middle range theories social capitalcultural capitalsymbolic interactionismcritical theory labour process theoryeducational attainment assessment theories? Approaches to learning? too abstractand general offer few indications to researchers as to how they might guide orinfluence the collection of empirical evidence. between grand theories and

empirical findings represent an attempt to understand and explain a limited aspectof social life

10. Theory testing - 'with the research questions relating to their ability to help usunderstand a particular aspect of the social world.' (White, 2009, p. 24-25) Linkingtheory with research Theory generation - Identifying gaps in existing theories -research 'to generate theory in order to make up for this absence' (White, 2009, p.24-25) Theory-first Theory-after

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11. The term theory is frequently used in a manner that means little more than thebackground literature in an area of social inquiry' (Bryman, 2008, p. 8) Purpose : Toresolve an inconsistency between different findings/ interpretations of findings Toaddress a neglected area of a topic To provide an alternative approach to that inliterature Literature acting as proxy for theory Can be critiqued as 'naive empiricism'(Bryman, 2008) '"theory" may be little more than the literature on acertain topic in the form of accumulated knowledge gleaned from books andarticles' (Bryman, 2008, p. 8)

12. How do you characterise the use of theory in your PhD study?

13. Use of theory in research Guides and influences the collection and analysis ofdata - deductive theory Occurs after the collection and analysis of some or all of thedata associated with a project - inductive theory (Bryman, 2008)

14. Deductive theory implications of findings for the theory Deduce a hypothesisEmpirical study Concepts researchable entities questions Theory Operational terms

specifying how data can be collected in relation to the concepts that make up thehypothesis Middle-range theory to guide empirical inquiry (Merton, 1967, p. 39)based on what is known in the domain and theoretical consideration translated intoFindings fed back into the stock of theory and knowledge in the domain [revision of]Theory (adapted from Bryman, 2008)

15. Theory an outcome of research Drawing generalisable inferences out ofobservations. Iterative. once the phase of theoretical reflection on a set of data hasbeen carried out, the researcher ..collect[s] further data in order to establish theconditions in which a theory will and will not hold (p. 12) ... weaving back and forthbetween data and theory. ... particularly evident in grounded theory (p. 12). Evidentin the way theoretical ideas being derived from data, rather than formed before-hand. Use of the 'ground theory approach' to the analysis of data and to thegeneration of theory. ... very often what one ends up with can often be little morethan empirical generalisations (p. 12). Inductive theory (Bryman, 2008)

16. And what about you? Inductive? Deductive? Mix and match?

17. Grounded theory Glaser and Strauss (1967) The Discovery of GroundedTheory: Strategies for Qualitative Research

18. Grounded theory An strategy of qualitative data analysis An approach to datacollection 'not a theory - ... an approach to the generation of theory out of data'(Bryman 2008, p. 541) An iterative process of data collection and analysis

19. For the analysis of data and to the generation of theory Useful for generatingtheory out of data

20. ...grounded theory is honoured more in breach than in the observance, ....claims are often made that grounded theory has been used but ... Evidence of thisbeing the case is at best uncertain (Brayman, 1988: 85, 91; Locke 1996; Charmaz,2000, in Brayman, 2008: p. 541)

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21. 'Before applying this label to a research project, however, you should be awarethat grounded theory entails a specific set of procedures and strategies for theachievement of such empirically embedded forms of understanding' (Hodkinson2008)

22. 'The tendency for dissertation and research students to claim the use ofgrounded theory in their methodology chapters, without any details or reflection onthe way in which they used these procedures and strategies, does not go down atall well with examiners ' (Hodkinson 2008, p. 83)

23. 'When describing your methodology, provide detail and reflection on theapproach you took to the collection and analysis of data - don't use a label likegrounded theory without elaborating ' (Hodkinson 2008, p. 83).

24. Any grounded theory users?

25. Overall design and orientation Theory as Perspective Theory as Substantivetheory

26. Perspective A particular perspective, philosophical position, paradigm or meta-theory which lies behind and informs research (Punch, 2006)

27. Paradigm A set of assumptions about the social world What constitute propertechniques and topics for inquiring into that world A broad term encompassingelements of epistemology, theory, philosophy, methods.. Positivism, post-positivism, critical theory, constructivism (Punch, 2006)

28. Meta-theory Ideas about conceptions of science. what a scientist should andcan do. Thoughts about what is scientifically possible and what is not. Logical

empirisism, post-empiricism, critical rathinalism, critical theory, phenomenology.Ermeneutics, systems theory. (Punch, 2006)

29. Perspectives or positions Paradigms and meta-theories as perspectives or'positions' lie behind research The idea that there might be a particular paradigm ormeta-theory or philosophical position behind the research Other perspectives thannoted above as paradigms and meta-theories Feminism, post-modernism,symbolic interactionism, semiotics, ethnomethodology, discourse analysis,conversational analysis. (Punch, 2006)

30. Perspectives or positions Influences the researcher in many ways Makingcertain assumptions Influence on what issues to focus How research questions are

asked Choice of methods (Punch, 2006)

31. Perspectives or positions - Examples a feminist study of participation in unionsa critical theory study of life in asylums a constructivist study of curriculumdevelopment in science a post-positivist study of quality assurance procedures ineducation (Punch, 2006)

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32. However.... Not all research begins or proceeds from a 'perspective' Someresearch can begin with a 'pragmatic' approach of questions that need answers(Punch, 2006)

33. Theory (substantive theory) theory about a substantive issue or phenomenonboth describes and explains the phenomenon of substantive interest (Punch, 2006)

34. Theory (substantive theory) 'a common criterion among universities for theaward of the doctorate centres on the "substantial and original contribution toknowledge" the study makes, and the "substantial" part of thecriterion is often interpreted in terms of substantive theory'. (Punch, 2006, p. 33)Important for us because ...

35. Theory (substantive theory) Examples: learning theories and personal constructtheory (psychology) reference group theory and social stratification theory(sociology) theories of childrens moral development and of teachers career styles(education) leadership theories (management and administration) (Punch, 2006)

36. The relationship of the study to the literature Where does the study fit in relationto literature? What is its connection to that literature? How will the research movebeyond previous work / beyond what we already know? What contributions will thisstudy make to the literature? (Punch, 2006)

37. The relationship of the study to the literature Fills a gap in the literatureSits inline with the main trends in the literatureSeeks to extend these trendsTakes adifferent direction from those in the literatureConfirms, challenges or disconfirmsother findings (a replication study)Tests / extends a theory from the literatureUses atheoretical framework or model from the literature (Punch, 2006)

38. (Bryman, 2008) Quantitative Qualitative Role of theory deductive, testing theoryinductive, generation of theory Epistemological orientation practices and norms ofthe natural science model (positivism) preference for an emphasis on how peopleinterpret their world (interpretivism) Ontological orientation social reality as anexternal, objective reality (objectivism) social reality as constantly shifting emergentproperty of individuals creation (constructionism) quantification in the collection andanalysis of data words rather than quantification in the collection and analysis ofdata

39. How are you doing with theory so far?

40. Research questions? Research strategy?

41. (Bryman, 2008) Theory and research deductive (theory guides research)inductive (theory as an outcomes of research) Epistemological considerationspositivism (a natural science epistemology)interpretivism Ontologicalconsiderations objectivismconstructivism Research strategy quantitative andqualitative Influences on the conduct values practical considerations