TOPIC: MINIMUM STANDARD FOR A THEORY

SUBJECT: EDUCATION 201 (Methods of Research)

STUDENT: CONNIE O. SAUNAR

PROFESSOR: DR. GRACIANO BAŇAGA JR.

STANDARDS FOR EVALUATING A THEORY

Theory is the most important part of your research. You cannot build a house without a strong
foundation. In short, Theory is the foundation of our research . Your research will not stand if you do
not have a strong theory that would prove that the strategy that you are testing in your research. The
theory that you are testing in your research is really effective, is really have the potential of helping the
beneficiaries of your research. This is also a well sustained explanation acquired through the scientific
method and repeatedly tested and confirmed through observations and experimentation. Without
theories, we cannot organise facts.

A. Descriptive and Explanatory

A theory needs to effectively explain: what, how, why, when and where about a situation
or phenomenon. You must understand all or most of the main theories that attempt to
explain a particular phenomenon.

B. Accuracy
It is important to determine whether research supports the theory.

C. Practicality
Refers to whether real world applications have been found for the theory.

D. Simplicity
A theory should be constructed with the fewest possible steps. A criterion of adequacy
for judging the worth of theories . A simple theory is one that makes minimal
assumptions.
The simplest theory (e.i., one that uses the smallest number of variables or makes the
fewest assumptions) is the best.
E. Consistency
It is determined by looking at two factors:
 Internal consistency- references whether all of the ideas are logically built on each other.
This is a consistent result from different parts of a measure.

External consistency- asks if a theory is consistent with other theories.

F. Acuity
The theory should have the ability to provide insight into an otherwise complex issue.

Theoretical Explanation

A theory, or hypothesis, that tries to explain why something is that way is, why something is the case, or
why something happened.

Sources:

http://libguides.usc.edu/writing

http://courses.lumenlearning.com/atd-herkimer

-researchmethodsforsocialscience/chapter/chapter4-theories-in-scientific-research