[SH – PR2 / Practical Research 2]

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[Related Theories and Concepts]

Related Theories and Concepts

Theories and concepts are view of how concepts are structured, acquired,
and deployed. Concepts, as they will be understood here, are mental
representations that are implicated in many of our higher thought processes,
including various forms of reasoning and inference, categorization, planning
and decision making, and constructing and testing explanations. The view
states that concepts are organized within and around theories, that acquiring
a concept involves learning such a theory, and that deploying a concept in a
cognitive task involves theoretical reasoning, especially of a causal-
explanatory sort. (http://www.iep.utm.edu/th-th-co/)
Theory is a model or framework for observation and understanding, which
shapes both what we see and how we see it. Theory allows the researcher to
make links between the abstract and the concrete; the theoretical and the
empirical; thought statements and observational statements etc.  Theory is
a generalized statement that asserts a connection between two or more types
of phenomena – any generalized explanatory principle.  Theory is a system
of interconnected abstractions or ideas that condenses and organizes
knowledge about the world.  Theory explains and predicts the relationship
between variables.
Theory guides research and organizes its ideas. The analogy of bricks lying
around haphazardly in the brickyard: ‘facts’ of different shapes and sizes
have no meaning unless they are drawn together in a theoretical or
conceptual framework.  Theory becomes stronger as more supporting
evidence is gathered; and it provides a context for predictions.  Theory has
the capacity to generate new research.  Theory is empirically relevant and
always tentative.

At the end of the topic the students should be able to:

1. Discuss the functions of the review of related literature and studies;
2. Discuss the characteristics of the materials cited; and
3. Discuss how to organize the review.

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The Functions of the Review of Related Literature and Studies
A Research project begins with a thesis, usually consisting of a statement or
an equation, which then needs to be analyzed through the research. Even
before a thesis can take shape, one need to undertake a lot of reading and go
through a lot of past work already available. Those works that remain
significantly relevant for the research are usually included as Review of
Literature..
Every piece of ongoing research needs to be connected with the work already
done, to attain an overall relevance and purpose. The review of literature
thus becomes a link between the research proposed and the studies already
done. It tells the reader about aspects that have been already established or
concluded by other authors, and also gives a chance to the reader to
appreciate the evidence that has already been collected by previous research,
and thus projects the current research work in the proper perspective.
A large part of review of literature actually needs to be done even before the
research project is formalized. This is essential to make sure that you are not
repeating the work that someone has already done earlier. Sometimes, if the
research proposed has already been undertaken earlier, then it provides an
option of modifying the work by adding a new perspective or altering some
of the methods of research to obtain a perspective that will be different from
earlier works and thus more valuable. Occasionally, a research work may be
an exact repetition of the work done earlier, but with a different set of data or
sources of facts, and purpose of the research may just be to see if the results
with a new set of data are similar to earlier works or otherwise.
An introduction is the first paragraph of a written research paper, or the first
thing you say in an oral presentation, or the first thing people see, hear, or
experience about your project.
(http://vkumar.expertscolumn.com/article/importance-review-related-
literature-research-paper)
One of the essential preliminary tasks when you undertake a research study
is to go through the existing literature in order to acquaint yourself with the
available body of knowledge in your area of interest. Reviewing the literature
can be time consuming, daunting and frustrating, but it is also rewarding. The
literature review is an integral part of the research process and makes a
valuable contribution to almost every operational step. It has value even
before the first step; that is, when you are merely thinking about a research
question that you may want to find answers to through your research
journey. In the initial stages of research it helps you to establish the
theoretical roots of your study, clarify your ideas and develop your research
methodology. Later in the process, the literature review serves to enhance
and consolidate your own knowledge base and helps you to integrate your
findings with the existing body of knowledge. Since an important
responsibility in research is to compare your findings with those of others, it
is here that the literature review plays an extremely important role. During
the write-up of your report it helps you to integrate your findings with
existing knowledge - that is, to either support or contradict earlier research.
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[Related Theories and Concepts]

The higher the academic level of your research, the more important a
thorough integration of your findings with existing literature becomes. In
summary, a literature review has the following functions:

• It provides a theoretical background to your study.

• It helps you establish the links between what you are proposing to examine
and what has already been studied.
• It enables you to show how your findings have contributed to the existing
body of knowledge in your profession. It helps you to integrate your research
findings into the existing body of knowledge.

In relation to your own study, the literature review can help in four ways. It
can:
1 bring clarity and focus to your research problem;
2 improve your research methodology;
3 broaden your knowledge base in your research area; and
4 contextualize your findings.

The Characteristics of the Materials Cited

Writing or citing any related literature and studies is not as simple as just
copying any related thing you find. Of course, it should follow some nice
rules. Here are some of good characteristics of the materials cited:
It should be as recent/new, as possible. We are now living in a fast-paced
world and everything changes almost in an instant. Topics including social,
political, scientific and technology have rapid changes, improvements and
updates. Even discoveries in historical and archaeological research are
experiencing some changes on historical facts. Unlike mathematical and
statistical procedure, other materials are not stable. What can we learn from
this? It is recommended to cite materials or findings that are 5 years old or
later. Most of the time, the newer is the better.

It should be objective and unbiased, as possible. Do not cite materials and

literatures that discuss things in a one-sided way. If it’s political or religion, it
should not obviously make favorable statement to a certain people, group,
party, sect or anything.

OF COURSE, it should be relevant to the study. If the materials have some

similarity to or bearing on the problem researched, then go for it! Enough
said.

It should not be too few or too many. Materials should be sufficient enough.
This is to give the researcher insight into his problem, or to indicate the
nature of the present investigation. Sometimes, the number of related
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 materials may depend upon its availability. If you are making a study that is
first of its kind or rare, you may find few or even no related studies for it.
Ordinarily, you can cite ten to fifteen related materials for your
undergraduate thesis, fifteen to twenty-five for a master’s thesis and above
twenty for a doctoral dissertation. Remember, those numbers are just
recommendation.

Sources you can consider in preparing the Related Literature and Studies:

1. Books, encyclopaedias, almanacs and other similar references.

2. Articles published in professional journals, magazines, periodicals,
newspapers and other publications.
3. Unpublished theses and dissertations.
4. Records of schools, public and private, especially reports of their
activities.
5. Reports from seminars, educational or otherwise.

You can locate those sources on the following:

1. Libraries, either government, school, or other private libraries
2. Government and private offices.
3. The national library.

How to Organize the Review

There are numerous ways to organize the material in a lit. review. For
example, one might organize the selected readings by
1. different theoretical approaches
2. specific concepts or issues
3. different methodologies employed
4. level of support or otherwise that they lend to one’s own
hypothesis/theory.

Such methods are generally better than organizing chronologically or by

author. The latter often result in a boring review or one lacking clarity or
direction.
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[Related Theories and Concepts]

Glossary
Concept – is a word pertaining to an abstract idea representing the
fundamental characteristics of what it represents. ... In informal use the
word concept often just means any idea, but formally it involves the
abstraction component.
Theory – is a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural
world, based on a body of facts that have been repeatedly confirmed through
observation and experiment.

References
Baraceros, Esther L. (2017), Practical Research 2, Rex Book Store, Inc., First
Edition
Baraceros, Esther L. (2017), Practical Research 1, Rex Book Store, Inc., First
Edition
Sarno, Emerlita G. (2010), Tips and Techniques in Writing Research, Rex
Book Store, Inc.

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