Theories and Theorists

Craft a paper in which you address the following instructions and questions:
2. ?Identify two key theories in your field.

3. ?Identify the theorist(s) and sources of the theories (key articles or books) in your discipline.

4. ?Describe the basic tenets of these theories.

5. ?Analyze the relationship between the two theories that you have found.

6. ?Explain why these theories are so important to your discipline and how they relate to the research that you are interested in doing.

7. ?Include a reference list for the five "classics" or influential works you have found
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Notes on assignments from teacher about her assignment:

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.

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To prepare for this Application:

•Review Chapters 3, 4, and 5 in the course text, A Primer in Theory Construction.

•Review Chapter 3 in the course text, Research Design.

•Using the library, and any other resources at your disposal, discover the important theories in your field. What are they?

•Identify the origin of the theories, their authors or developers, and the source material where you can find these theories.

•Analyze and assess the relationship between two theories that you have found. Does one expand upon or reference the other?

•Identify at least five "classics," or influential works, in your discipline. Why are they important? How much are they referenced today?
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More notes help write paper:

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 doctoral writing
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Required Resources to help write paper
This page contains the Learning Resources for this week. Be sure to scroll down the page to see all of this week’s assigned Learning Resources. To access select media resources, please use the media player below.

•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, work through the building blocks of theories.
•Library Online Resource:
Theory
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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

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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.