Describe the review of literature and its importance

Welcome, researchers! This topic lays the groundwork for your research through relevant Theory and Review of Literature. Here, you'll gain the knowledge and skills to build a strong foundation for your research. 

Learning Outcomes 1- Describe the review of literature and its importance. 

In this topic, we will explore the concept of underpinning theory.  

Before we start the discussion, please note that theories act as frameworks that guide your research by providing a lens through which you can apply and interpret your findings. You'll learn how theories can be confirmed or disconfirmed through your research. 

Let us start this topic by reading this statement by Borg and Borg (1983). 

Without some viable theory to serve as a guide, many studies address trivial questions or contribute nothing to the slow accumulation of knowledge needed for advancement of the science of education. Source: Borg & Borg (1983) 

Do you agree with the statement by W. Borg and M. Borg? 

According to W. Borg and M. Borg, theory serves as a guide for research to avoid investigating phenomena that are irrelevant and do not contribute to our understanding.  

Let us discover more about theory and review of literature through this topic. Let us begin the lesson! 

What is a Theory? 

A theory is a large body of interconnected propositions on how some portion of the social world operates (Kidder, 1980). 

In other words, it is statement or set of statements that explains and predicts phenomena, as well as, a statement of a relationship between two or more events.