This presentation is about the different ways in which theory is linked to PhD research.

1. For PhD Researchers 01 July 2011 Dr Palitha Edirisingha University of Leicester, UK. Theory in a PhD study

2. Gilbert, N. (2008) Researching Social Life , 3rd Edn. London: Sage. Bryman, A. (2008) Social Research Methods, 3rd Edn. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Punch, K. F. (2006) Developing Effective Research Proposals , 2nd Edn . London: Sage. White, P. (2009) Developing Research Questions: A guide for social scientists : Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. References Carey, M. (2009) The Social Work Dissertation: Using Small-Scale Qualitative Methodology. Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill and Open University Press.

6. Knowledge : epistemology, ontology Data collection and analytical strategies : e.g., grounded theory Role : deductive OR inductive Research paradigm : interpretivism, positivism Theory in ....

8. Types of theory Grand theories Middle range theories (Merton 1967) Literature acting as proxy for theory (Bryman, 2008)

10. Theory testing - 'with the research questions relating to their ability to help us understand a particular aspect of the social world.' (White, 2009, p. 24-25) Linking theory with research Theory generation - Identifying gaps in existing theories - research 'to generate theory in order to make up for this absence' (White, 2009, p. 24-25) Theory-first Theory-after

12. How do you characterise the use of theory in your PhD study?

16. And what about you? Inductive? Deductive? Mix and match?

17. Grounded theory Glaser and Strauss (1967) The Discovery of Grounded Theory: Strategies for Qualitative Research

18. Grounded theory An strategy of qualitative data analysis An approach to data collection 'not a theory - ... an approach to the generation of theory out of data' (Bryman 2008, p. 541) An iterative process of data collection and analysis

20. ...grounded theory is honoured more in breach than in the observance, .... claims are often made that grounded theory has been used but ... Evidence of this being the case is at best uncertain (Brayman, 1988: 85, 91; Locke 1996; Charmaz, 2000, in Brayman, 2008: p. 541)

21. 'Before applying this label to a research project, however, you should be aware that grounded theory entails a specific set of procedures and strategies for the achievement of such empirically embedded forms of understanding' (Hodkinson 2008)

22. 'The tendency for dissertation and research students to claim the use of grounded theory in their methodology chapters, without any details or reflection on the way in which they used these procedures and strategies, does not go down at all well with examiners ' (Hodkinson 2008, p. 83)

23. 'When describing your methodology, provide detail and reflection on the approach you took to the collection and analysis of data - don't use a label like grounded theory without elaborating ' (Hodkinson 2008, p. 83).

24. Any grounded theory users?

25. Overall design and orientation Theory as Perspective Theory as Substantive theory

38. (Bryman, 2008) Quantitative Qualitative Role of theory deductive, testing theory inductive, generation of theory Epistemological orientation practices and norms of the natural science model (positivism) preference for an emphasis on how people interpret their world (interpretivism) Ontological orientation social reality as an external, objective reality (objectivism) social reality as constantly shifting emergent property of individuals creation (constructionism) quantification in the collection and analysis of data words rather than quantification in the collection and analysis of data

39. How are you doing with theory so far?

40. Research questions? Research strategy?

41. (Bryman, 2008) Theory and research deductive (theory guides research) inductive (theory as an outcomes of research) Epistemological considerations positivism (a natural science epistemology)interpretivism Ontological considerations objectivismconstructivism Research strategy quantitative and qualitative Influences on the conduct values practical considerations

42. Thank u! pe [email_address]