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Before we answer that question, let’s first understand what a theory is. A scientific theory provides an explanation for the phenomenon under inquiry. It is based on a large body of data or evidence and is widely supported by the scientific community. Consider Einstein’s ‘theory of relativity,’ one of humanity’s greatest and most influential theories. It transformed our understanding of the space-time continuum by explaining gravity as the curvature of spacetime caused by mass and energy, rather than as a force acting between objects, as proposed in Newton’s earlier conceptualisation. Giving the example of a scientific theory in Psychology, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs organises human motivation into levels and proposes that basic needs generally require satisfaction before individuals can focus on personal growth. It is important to note however that theories vary in how much empirical support they have which ultimately decides their impact.
The emphasis here is on the word explanation and not merely prediction, for prediction often becomes a by-product of a good theory. Einstein’s theory of relativity accurately predicts the motion of planets because its value lies in explaining ‘why’ planets go around other celestial objects rather than describing ‘how’ they move. Consider astrology: it also makes predictions, but it does not provide a scientifically testable and evidence-based explanation of the mechanisms through which those outcomes supposedly occur. Prediction alone, therefore, is not enough to make a system scientific (ironically, AstroSage continues to generate four times the annual revenue compared to India’s largest mental health startups).
A scientific theory is a way for us to build understanding of the world around us. Things get murkier when we study humans and their behaviours for we’re dealing with dynamic individuals who remain to a certain extent, unpredictable. Herein, context becomes really important! Hence, psychological theories work within boundary conditions; they are more likely to explain behaviour only under specific circumstances. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs for instance, falls short when trying to explain why ascetics, sannyasins or yogis forgo their basic, low-level needs and shoot straight for self-actualization. There are other limitations as well…and that is a good thing. Science thrives on falsifiability but we’ll leave that for a later issue. Researchers and scientists are always trying to come up with better explanations and more accurate predictions that give rise to sound theories. Now that we’ve established what a theory is, let's answer the question: Should you ground your research in theory?
1) YES, you should ground it in theory!
When a theory clearly explains your research problem.
When your study explicitly tests, extends, or applies a theory.
When prior research in the area is theory-driven.
You can also ground your research in theory when it helps define your variable of interest or explain the relationship between multiple variables. If it guides your method or the interpretation of your findings, it is worthwhile to mention it as well.
You do not necessarily have to mention the theory in the title, as in the examples above, or even in the abstract; those examples were only used for representation. While going for a publication though, you have to be careful as some journals explicitly mention that they only accept manuscripts that make significant theoretical contributions.
2) NAH, you can skip for now!
You do not always need to ground your research in an existing theory. This may be the case when the topic is new or under-explored, when no theory fits the research context, or when the study is primarily descriptive. Forcing a theory in such cases may distort the research problem and may lead to a situation where you’re trying to mould your data within a theory which is not a good practice!
Community Updates
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