Theory

Question 1

Theories play a vitally important role in guiding research and organizing and making sense of research findings. In spite of the great importance of theory-building and theory testing within your field of specialization, there is no generally accepted conception of what a theory is. Because your dissertation must contribute to theory, you must have a clear understanding of the variety of conceptions of theory, types of theories, and ways of contributing to theory and be able to justify how, exactly, your study contributes to theory.

Table of Contents

Introduction1

Part 13

The theory and Desktop Virtualization: Analyzing its Energy Consumption Impact3

Nature of theories4

Scholarly views on the nature of theory5

Distinguishing between Theories and Related Concepts6

Hypothesis6

Dependent and Independent Variables7

Paradigm and Models7

Types of theory8

Part 29

Relationship between Theory and Research9

Contributions10

Methods of Contribution10

Part 312

Behaviorism Theory and Desktop Virtualization12

Contribution of the Behaviorism Theory to the Understanding of Desktop Virtualization13

Controversies Relating to the Behaviorism Theory14

Conclusion15

References16

Theory

Introduction

According to Gelso (2006) one of the utmost obstructions to appreciating the research-theory link in science is the propensity to misinterpret what constitutes theory itself. Stam (2010) claimed that the term theory can have variety of meanings; it depends upon the context in which it is used. According to Harlow (2009) the term theory might suggest a determining law, or system of laws, as in the natural sciences, or a construct or set of constructs for ordering and understanding phenomena. Stam (2007) suggested that theories exist in variety of forms. The theory is applied to a given idea, hunch or hypothesis. It is important to note that theories differ from ideas, hunches and hypotheses (Stam, 2007).

The definition of theory suggested by Wacker (1999) is comprised of four main components: definitions, domain, relationships, and predictive claims to answer the natural language questions of who, what, when, where, how, why, should, could and would (Wacker, 1999).

Christopher (2010) claimed that theories help in developing meaningful connections in the series of observation and data. This argument is supported by Corley (2011) who suggested that theories aid in providing the meaning and understanding required to grasp, explain and comprehend the world around us (Corley, 2011).

Gelso (2006) utilizes an example of a situation of psychotherapy research, based upon facts and series of observations, to show how therapists interpret the feelings and the reflections of the clients. Based on the changes psychologists and therapists bring about in their patients, it can be deduced that their observations and analyses have a direct relationship to the level of interaction they have with their patients (Rindova, 2008)

The importance of theories can be understood from the above example. Without prior experience, expertise and meaningful sessions with the patient, the psychiatrist's analysis of the patient and the theories would have no backing and would be given no importance (Kuechler, 2012).

On the contrary, if the individual were to have the characteristics mentioned above, the theory present would be taken much more seriously. “How” and “why” of the scientific process and observations are extremely important for driving meaningful outcomes and conclusions from the ...