The role of theories in social sciences research

Document Type:Essay

Subject Area:Religion

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Additionally, use of theories in social research helps in organization of facts, which in essence points researchers to that which they are unaware of which culminates then into the whole scope of the research. According to O’ Sullivan, theory is placed after Models and Concepts, then followed by Hypotheses, Methodology, study Methods and lastly, findings (O’Sullivan, 2016). Furthermore, theories provide a method of classification of things. These can be entities, causal relationships and other processes. Also, in social sciences, theories help in understanding how and explain further why the already observed differences or regularities happen. Also, in the field of social sciences, there is deductive and inductive reasoning. Deductive reasoning entails the process of making a logical argument or point by using known facts, properties, laws of logic and definitions.

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In the deductive reasoning school of thought, it starts with a theory-driven hypothesis, and thereby later directs collection of data and further analysis. Also, the researcher in deductive reasoning is not bound to alter the trajectory of the study. Further, in the deductive approach, there is a specific aim to be achieved hence it is highly structured (Fink, 2015). It is also an approach that is less organized in the form of a structure. Also, in inductive reasoning, there is abundance time necessary to carry a depth analysis which in essence means a bottom-up approach. In summary, it consist of observation of a phenomena which occurs in form of a pattern which is used to build a new theory. References Fink, A.

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