Answered: What are the Links between Theory and…

Social Psychology (10th Edition)

10th Edition

ISBN:9780134641287

Author:Elliot Aronson, Timothy D. Wilson, Robin M. Akert, Samuel R. Sommers

Publisher:Elliot Aronson, Timothy D. Wilson, Robin M. Akert, Samuel R. Sommers

Chapter1: Introducing Social Psychology

Section: Chapter Questions

Problem 1RQ1

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Question

What are the Links between Theory and Research?

Expert Solution

Introduction

Social research refers to the systematic and organized sociological investigation conducted to understand, analyze and interpret a social reality, problem or phenomena.

A theory or social theory represents hypotheses, explanations, speculations, and arguments on social reality, phenomena, or events.

Explanation

Theory and research are closely linked to one another. The relationship between theory and research takes the following form:

Social research provides a medium for a social theory to be realized. Therefore, social theory informs or facilitates social research.
Social research can also help to generate a social theory. In the case of exploratory and qualitative research, theories emerge out of the study. Thus theory and research share an inductive relationship. This relationship implies that social research can also inform a theory.
The validity and reliability of a theory are tested by conducting social research. Therefore, theory and research share a deductive relationship. Research is not just a medium for a theory to be realized; it also facilitates testing a theory that results in the acceptance, rejection, or modification of the theory.