In science 'Theory' Refers to the best hypothesis, accepted as true until something better comes along.
You should research then then debate on the theory, that way, you have a stronger foundation to build your argument.
Theory-practice-theory take existing theory in education, apply to distance learning, develop new theory Practice-research-theory see what is happening in distance learning, submit to research, develop theory from results Theory-theory-research/practice build on an initial theory to develop a second theory, then apply and test it
to proof the research...
If one has a theory, one can conduct research to prove or disprove the theory ... and if one conducts research, the knowledge gained can lead to formulation of new theories, which research can prove or disprove and lead to new theories which can be researched ... prove or disprove and lead to new theories which can be researched ... prove or disprove and lead to new theories which can be researched ...
Actual research provides usable results - which will prove or disprove the theory.
A hypothesis begets research. That research either denies the hypothesis, or confirms it and makes it a theory.
Theory in research provides a framework for understanding and interpreting data, guiding the research process to answer specific questions. It informs hypotheses and guides the formulation of research questions, helping researchers make sense of their findings and connect them to existing knowledge in the field. Theoretical frameworks also shape research design, methods, and data analysis techniques.
Theory is used used to craft the null hypothesis, which is either proved or disproved by the research itself
Grounded theory research is a systematic approach that allows theories to emerge from the data through a process of constant comparison and theoretical sampling. Unlike other forms of qualitative research, grounded theory does not begin with a preconceived theory or hypothesis. It aims to develop a new theory or framework based on the data collected.
Theory-driven research is guided by existing theories and hypotheses, while data-driven research relies on analyzing data to generate insights and patterns without predefined theories. In theory-driven research, the focus is on testing and confirming existing theories, whereas data-driven research focuses on exploring and discovering patterns in the data to derive new insights.
Theory gives direction to research. If you did not have any theory (or hypothesis) to test, you would be unlikely to be able to figure out what kind of experiment or observation you should be doing.
Research is precisely for advancing knowledge of a process or theory