The Place of Theory in Empirical Research

Abstract

This essay focuses attention on the place of theory in empirical research. That is, this essay examines the role of theory in the conduct of empirical research. It is argued that theory and empirical research are critically useful and important to each other as both facilitate the development of each other and they are engaged in an expanding network of relationships. This essay also posits that the indispensability of theory and empirical research to each other becomes glaring when it is realized that a fruitful empirical research cannot be conducted without a theory as a guide, and a theory can only be developed, clarified or reformulated as a product of an empirical research. This means that there is an unbreakable affinity between theory and empirical research.

Keywords: Theory, research, empirical research, phenomenon, inquiry