What is the meaning of the word theory

A theory is a rational type of abstract thinking about a phenomenon, or the results of such thinking. The process of contemplative and rational thinking is often associated with such processes as observational study or research. Theories may be scientific, belong to a non-scientific discipline, or no discipline at all. Depending on the context, a theory’s assertions might, for example, include generalized explanations of how nature works. The word has its roots in ancient Greek, but in modern use it has taken on several related meanings.

In modern science, the term «theory» refers to scientific theories, a well-confirmed type of explanation of nature, made in a way consistent with the scientific method, and fulfilling the criteria required by modern science. Such theories are described in such a way that scientific tests should be able to provide empirical support for it, or empirical contradiction («falsify») of it. Scientific theories are the most reliable, rigorous, and comprehensive form of scientific knowledge,^[1] in contrast to more common uses of the word «theory» that imply that something is unproven or speculative (which in formal terms is better characterized by the word hypothesis).^[2] Scientific theories are distinguished from hypotheses, which are individual empirically testable conjectures, and from scientific laws, which are descriptive accounts of the way nature behaves under certain conditions.

Theories guide the enterprise of finding facts rather than of reaching goals, and are neutral concerning alternatives among values.^[3]: 131 A theory can be a body of knowledge, which may or may not be associated with particular explanatory models. To theorize is to develop this body of knowledge.^[4]: 46

The word theory or «in theory» is sometimes used erroneously by people to explain something which they individually did not experience or test before.^[5] In those instances, semantically, it is being substituted for another concept, a hypothesis. Instead of using the word «hypothetically», it is replaced by a phrase: «in theory». In some instances the theory’s credibility could be contested by calling it «just a theory» (implying that the idea has not even been tested).^[6] Hence, that word «theory» is very often contrasted to «practice» (from Greek praxis, πρᾶξις) a Greek term for doing, which is opposed to theory.^[6] A «classical example» of the distinction between «theoretical» and «practical» uses the discipline of medicine: medical theory involves trying to understand the causes and nature of health and sickness, while the practical side of medicine is trying to make people healthy. These two things are related but can be independent, because it is possible to research health and sickness without curing specific patients, and it is possible to cure a patient without knowing how the cure worked.^[a]

Ancient usage[edit]

The English word theory derives from a technical term in philosophy in Ancient Greek. As an everyday word, theoria, θεωρία, meant «looking at, viewing, beholding», but in more technical contexts it came to refer to contemplative or speculative understandings of natural things, such as those of natural philosophers, as opposed to more practical ways of knowing things, like that of skilled orators or artisans.^[b] English-speakers have used the word theory since at least the late 16th century.^[7] Modern uses of the word theory derive from the original definition, but have taken on new shades of meaning, still based on the idea of a theory as a thoughtful and rational explanation of the general nature of things.

Although it has more mundane meanings in Greek, the word θεωρία apparently developed special uses early in the recorded history of the Greek language. In the book From Religion to Philosophy, Francis Cornford suggests that the Orphics used the word theoria to mean «passionate sympathetic contemplation».^[8] Pythagoras changed the word to mean «the passionless contemplation of rational, unchanging truth» of mathematical knowledge, because he considered this intellectual pursuit the way to reach the highest plane of existence.^[9] Pythagoras emphasized subduing emotions and bodily desires to help the intellect function at the higher plane of theory. Thus, it was Pythagoras who gave the word theory the specific meaning that led to the classical and modern concept of a distinction between theory (as uninvolved, neutral thinking) and practice.^[10]

Aristotle’s terminology, as already mentioned, contrasts theory with praxis or practice, and this contrast exists till today. For Aristotle, both practice and theory involve thinking, but the aims are different. Theoretical contemplation considers things humans do not move or change, such as nature, so it has no human aim apart from itself and the knowledge it helps create. On the other hand, praxis involves thinking, but always with an aim to desired actions, whereby humans cause change or movement themselves for their own ends. Any human movement that involves no conscious choice and thinking could not be an example of praxis or doing.^[c]

Formality[edit]

Theories are analytical tools for understanding, explaining, and making predictions about a given subject matter. There are theories in many and varied fields of study, including the arts and sciences. A formal theory is syntactic in nature and is only meaningful when given a semantic component by applying it to some content (e.g., facts and relationships of the actual historical world as it is unfolding). Theories in various fields of study are expressed in natural language, but are always constructed in such a way that their general form is identical to a theory as it is expressed in the formal language of mathematical logic. Theories may be expressed mathematically, symbolically, or in common language, but are generally expected to follow principles of rational thought or logic.

Theory is constructed of a set of sentences that are entirely true statements about the subject under consideration. However, the truth of any one of these statements is always relative to the whole theory. Therefore, the same statement may be true with respect to one theory, and not true with respect to another. This is, in ordinary language, where statements such as «He is a terrible person» cannot be judged as true or false without reference to some interpretation of who «He» is and for that matter what a «terrible person» is under the theory.^[11]

Sometimes two theories have exactly the same explanatory power because they make the same predictions. A pair of such theories is called indistinguishable or observationally equivalent, and the choice between them reduces to convenience or philosophical preference.

The form of theories is studied formally in mathematical logic, especially in model theory. When theories are studied in mathematics, they are usually expressed in some formal language and their statements are closed under application of certain procedures called rules of inference. A special case of this, an axiomatic theory, consists of axioms (or axiom schemata) and rules of inference. A theorem is a statement that can be derived from those axioms by application of these rules of inference. Theories used in applications are abstractions of observed phenomena and the resulting theorems provide solutions to real-world problems. Obvious examples include arithmetic (abstracting concepts of number), geometry (concepts of space), and probability (concepts of randomness and likelihood).

Gödel’s incompleteness theorem shows that no consistent, recursively enumerable theory (that is, one whose theorems form a recursively enumerable set) in which the concept of natural numbers can be expressed, can include all true statements about them. As a result, some domains of knowledge cannot be formalized, accurately and completely, as mathematical theories. (Here, formalizing accurately and completely means that all true propositions—and only true propositions—are derivable within the mathematical system.) This limitation, however, in no way precludes the construction of mathematical theories that formalize large bodies of scientific knowledge.

Underdetermination[edit]

A theory is underdetermined (also called indeterminacy of data to theory) if a rival, inconsistent theory is at least as consistent with the evidence. Underdetermination is an epistemological issue about the relation of evidence to conclusions.

A theory that lacks supporting evidence is generally, more properly, referred to as a hypothesis.

Intertheoretic reduction and elimination[edit]

If a new theory better explains and predicts a phenomenon than an old theory (i.e., it has more explanatory power), we are justified in believing that the newer theory describes reality more correctly. This is called an intertheoretic reduction because the terms of the old theory can be reduced to the terms of the new one. For instance, our historical understanding about sound, «light» and heat have been reduced to wave compressions and rarefactions, electromagnetic waves, and molecular kinetic energy, respectively. These terms, which are identified with each other, are called intertheoretic identities. When an old and new theory are parallel in this way, we can conclude that the new one describes the same reality, only more completely.

When a new theory uses new terms that do not reduce to terms of an older theory, but rather replace them because they misrepresent reality, it is called an intertheoretic elimination. For instance, the obsolete scientific theory that put forward an understanding of heat transfer in terms of the movement of caloric fluid was eliminated when a theory of heat as energy replaced it. Also, the theory that phlogiston is a substance released from burning and rusting material was eliminated with the new understanding of the reactivity of oxygen.

Versus theorems[edit]

Theories are distinct from theorems. A theorem is derived deductively from axioms (basic assumptions) according to a formal system of rules, sometimes as an end in itself and sometimes as a first step toward being tested or applied in a concrete situation; theorems are said to be true in the sense that the conclusions of a theorem are logical consequences of the axioms. Theories are abstract and conceptual, and are supported or challenged by observations in the world. They are ‘rigorously tentative’, meaning that they are proposed as true and expected to satisfy careful examination to account for the possibility of faulty inference or incorrect observation. Sometimes theories are incorrect, meaning that an explicit set of observations contradicts some fundamental objection or application of the theory, but more often theories are corrected to conform to new observations, by restricting the class of phenomena the theory applies to or changing the assertions made. An example of the former is the restriction of classical mechanics to phenomena involving macroscopic length scales and particle speeds much lower than the speed of light.

The theory–practice gap[edit]

Theory is often distinguished from practice. The question of whether theoretical models of work are relevant to work itself is of interest to scholars of professions such as medicine, engineering, and law, and management.^[12]: 802

This gap between theory and practice has been framed as a knowledge transfer where there is a task of translating research knowledge to be application in practice, and ensuring that practitioners are made aware of it academics have been criticized for not attempting to transfer the knowledge they produce to practitioners.^{[12]: 804 [13]} Another framing supposes that theory and knowledge seek to understand different problems and model the world in different words (using different ontologies and epistemologies) . Another framing says that research does not produce theory that is relevant to practice.^[12]: 803

In the context of management, Van de Van and Johnson propose a form of engaged scholarship where scholars examine problems that occur in practice, in an interdisciplinary fashion, producing results that create both new practical results as well as new theoretical models, but targeting theoretical results shared in an academic fashion.^[12]: 815 They use a metaphor of «arbitrage» of ideas between disciplines, distinguishing it from collaboration.^[12]: 803

Scientific[edit]

In science, the term «theory» refers to «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.»^[14][15] Theories must also meet further requirements, such as the ability to make falsifiable predictions with consistent accuracy across a broad area of scientific inquiry, and production of strong evidence in favor of the theory from multiple independent sources (consilience).

The strength of a scientific theory is related to the diversity of phenomena it can explain, which is measured by its ability to make falsifiable predictions with respect to those phenomena. Theories are improved (or replaced by better theories) as more evidence is gathered, so that accuracy in prediction improves over time; this increased accuracy corresponds to an increase in scientific knowledge. Scientists use theories as a foundation to gain further scientific knowledge, as well as to accomplish goals such as inventing technology or curing diseases.

Definitions from scientific organizations[edit]

The United States National Academy of Sciences defines scientific theories as follows:

The formal scientific definition of «theory» is quite different from the everyday meaning of the word. It refers to a comprehensive explanation of some aspect of nature that is supported by a vast body of evidence. Many scientific theories are so well established that no new evidence is likely to alter them substantially. For example, no new evidence will demonstrate that the Earth does not orbit around the sun (heliocentric theory), or that living things are not made of cells (cell theory), that matter is not composed of atoms, or that the surface of the Earth is not divided into solid plates that have moved over geological timescales (the theory of plate tectonics) … One of the most useful properties of scientific theories is that they can be used to make predictions about natural events or phenomena that have not yet been observed.^[16]

From the American Association for the Advancement of Science:

A scientific 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. Such fact-supported theories are not «guesses» but reliable accounts of the real world. The theory of biological evolution is more than «just a theory.» It is as factual an explanation of the universe as the atomic theory of matter or the germ theory of disease. Our understanding of gravity is still a work in progress. But the phenomenon of gravity, like evolution, is an accepted fact.^[15]

The term theory is not appropriate for describing scientific models or untested, but intricate hypotheses.

Philosophical views[edit]

The logical positivists thought of scientific theories as deductive theories—that a theory’s content is based on some formal system of logic and on basic axioms. In a deductive theory, any sentence which is a logical consequence of one or more of the axioms is also a sentence of that theory.^[11] This is called the received view of theories.

In the semantic view of theories, which has largely replaced the received view,^[17][18] theories are viewed as scientific models. A model is a logical framework intended to represent reality (a «model of reality»), similar to the way that a map is a graphical model that represents the territory of a city or country. In this approach, theories are a specific category of models that fulfill the necessary criteria. (See Theories as models for further discussion.)

In physics[edit]

In physics the term theory is generally used for a mathematical framework—derived from a small set of basic postulates (usually symmetries, like equality of locations in space or in time, or identity of electrons, etc.)—which is capable of producing experimental predictions for a given category of physical systems. One good example is classical electromagnetism, which encompasses results derived from gauge symmetry (sometimes called gauge invariance) in a form of a few equations called Maxwell’s equations. The specific mathematical aspects of classical electromagnetic theory are termed «laws of electromagnetism», reflecting the level of consistent and reproducible evidence that supports them. Within electromagnetic theory generally, there are numerous hypotheses about how electromagnetism applies to specific situations. Many of these hypotheses are already considered adequately tested, with new ones always in the making and perhaps untested.

Regarding the term «theoretical»[edit]

Certain tests may be infeasible or technically difficult. As a result, theories may make predictions that have not been confirmed or proven incorrect. These predictions may be described informally as «theoretical». They can be tested later, and if they are incorrect, this may lead to revision, invalidation, or rejection of the theory.
^[19]

Mathematical[edit]

In mathematics the use of the term theory is different, necessarily so, since mathematics contains no explanations of natural phenomena, per se, even though it may help provide insight into natural systems or be inspired by them. In the general sense, a mathematical theory is a branch of or topic in mathematics, such as Set theory, Number theory, Group theory, Probability theory, Game theory, Control theory, Perturbation theory, etc., such as might be appropriate for a single textbook.

In the same sense, but more specifically, the word theory is an extensive, structured collection of theorems, organized so that the proof of each theorem only requires the theorems and axioms that preceded it (no circular proofs), occurs as early as feasible in sequence (no postponed proofs), and the whole is as succinct as possible (no redundant proofs).^[d] Ideally, the sequence in which the theorems are presented is as easy to understand as possible, although illuminating a branch of mathematics is the purpose of textbooks, rather than the mathematical theory they might be written to cover.

Philosophical[edit]

A theory can be either descriptive as in science, or prescriptive (normative) as in philosophy.^[20] The latter are those whose subject matter consists not of empirical data, but rather of ideas. At least some of the elementary theorems of a philosophical theory are statements whose truth cannot necessarily be scientifically tested through empirical observation.

A field of study is sometimes named a «theory» because its basis is some initial set of assumptions describing the field’s approach to the subject. These assumptions are the elementary theorems of the particular theory, and can be thought of as the axioms of that field. Some commonly known examples include set theory and number theory; however literary theory, critical theory, and music theory are also of the same form.

Metatheory[edit]

One form of philosophical theory is a metatheory or meta-theory. A metatheory is a theory whose subject matter is some other theory or set of theories. In other words, it is a theory about theories. Statements made in the metatheory about the theory are called metatheorems.

Political[edit]

A political theory is an ethical theory about the law and government. Often the term «political theory» refers to a general view, or specific ethic, political belief or attitude, thought about politics.

Jurisprudential[edit]

In social science, jurisprudence is the philosophical theory of law. Contemporary philosophy of law addresses problems internal to law and legal systems, and problems of law as a particular social institution.

Examples[edit]

Most of the following are scientific theories. Some are not, but rather encompass a body of knowledge or art, such as Music theory and Visual Arts Theories.

• Anthropology: Carneiro’s circumscription theory
• Astronomy: Alpher–Bethe–Gamow theory — B²FH Theory — Copernican theory — Newton’s theory of gravitation — Hubble’s law — Kepler’s laws of planetary motion Ptolemaic theory
• Biology: Cell theory — Chemiosmotic theory — Evolution — Germ theory — Symbiogenesis
• Chemistry: Molecular theory — Kinetic theory of gases — Molecular orbital theory — Valence bond theory — Transition state theory — RRKM theory — Chemical graph theory — Flory–Huggins solution theory — Marcus theory — Lewis theory (successor to Brønsted–Lowry acid–base theory) — HSAB theory — Debye–Hückel theory — Thermodynamic theory of polymer elasticity — Reptation theory — Polymer field theory — Møller–Plesset perturbation theory — density functional theory — Frontier molecular orbital theory — Polyhedral skeletal electron pair theory — Baeyer strain theory — Quantum theory of atoms in molecules — Collision theory — Ligand field theory (successor to Crystal field theory) — Variational transition-state theory — Benson group increment theory — Specific ion interaction theory
• Climatology: Climate change theory (general study of climate changes) and anthropogenic climate change (ACC)/ global warming (AGW) theories (due to human activity)
• Computer Science: Automata theory — Queueing theory
• Cosmology: Big Bang Theory — Cosmic inflation — Loop quantum gravity — Superstring theory — Supergravity — Supersymmetric theory — Multiverse theory — Holographic principle — Quantum gravity — M-theory
• Economics: Macroeconomic theory — Microeconomic theory — Law of Supply and demand
• Education: Constructivist theory — Critical pedagogy theory — Education theory — Multiple intelligence theory — Progressive education theory
• Engineering: Circuit theory — Control theory — Signal theory — Systems theory — Information theory
• Film: Film theory
• Geology: Plate tectonics
• Humanities: Critical theory
• Jurisprudence or ‘Legal theory’: Natural law — Legal positivism — Legal realism — Critical legal studies
• Law: see Jurisprudence; also Case theory
• Linguistics: X-bar theory — Government and Binding — Principles and parameters — Universal grammar
• Literature: Literary theory
• Mathematics: Approximation theory — Arakelov theory — Asymptotic theory — Bifurcation theory — Catastrophe theory — Category theory — Chaos theory — Choquet theory — Coding theory — Combinatorial game theory — Computability theory — Computational complexity theory — Deformation theory — Dimension theory — Ergodic theory — Field theory — Galois theory — Game theory — Gauge theory — Graph theory — Group theory — Hodge theory — Homology theory — Homotopy theory — Ideal theory — Intersection theory — Invariant theory — Iwasawa theory — K-theory — KK-theory — Knot theory — L-theory — Lie theory — Littlewood–Paley theory — Matrix theory — Measure theory — Model theory — Module theory — Morse theory — Nevanlinna theory — Number theory — Obstruction theory — Operator theory — Order theory — PCF theory — Perturbation theory — Potential theory — Probability theory — Ramsey theory — Rational choice theory — Representation theory — Ring theory — Set theory — Shape theory — Small cancellation theory — Spectral theory — Stability theory — Stable theory — Sturm–Liouville theory — Surgery theory — Twistor theory — Yang–Mills theory
• Music: Music theory
• Philosophy: Proof theory — Speculative reason — Theory of truth — Type theory — Value theory — Virtue theory
• Physics: Acoustic theory — Antenna theory — Atomic theory — BCS theory — Conformal field theory — Dirac hole theory — Dynamo theory — Landau theory — M-theory — Perturbation theory — Theory of relativity (successor to classical mechanics) — Gauge theory — Quantum field theory — Scattering theory — String theory — Quantum information theory
• Psychology: Theory of mind — Cognitive dissonance theory — Attachment theory — Object permanence — Poverty of stimulus — Attribution theory — Self-fulfilling prophecy — Stockholm syndrome
• Public Budgeting: Incrementalism — Zero-based budgeting
• Public Administration: Organizational theory
• Semiotics: Intertheoricity – Transferogenesis
• Sociology: Critical theory — Engaged theory — Social theory — Sociological theory – Social capital theory
• Statistics: Extreme value theory
• Theatre: Performance theory
• Visual Arts: Aesthetics — Art educational theory — Architecture — Composition — Anatomy — Color theory — Perspective — Visual perception — Geometry — Manifolds
• Other: Obsolete scientific theories

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

Citations[edit]

Sources[edit]

External links[edit]

• «How science works: Even theories change», Understanding Science by the University of California Museum of Paleontology.
• What is a Theory?

Science

Mary McMahon

Last Modified Date: April 12, 2023

The word “theory” means a number of different things, depending on the context. In the maths and sciences, for example, it is a tested and testable concept that is used to explain an occurrence. For students of the arts, the term refers to the non-practical aspect of their work, while laypeople refer to unproven ideas and speculation as theories. The multitude of meanings for this word can get confusing, but the intent is usually clear from the context; a mathematical paper talking about a theory, for example, is probably referring to it in the scientific sense.

In English, the word dates back to 1592, when it was used to mean a concept or scheme. By the 1630s, scientists had co-opted the term, using it to describe an explanation or thought that was based on observation and testing. “To theorize” also emerged at around the same time.

In the sciences, theories are created after observation and testing. They are designed to rationally and clearly explain a phenomenon. For example, Isaac Newton came up with a theory about gravity in the 17th century, and it proved to be both testable and correct. Scientific theories are not quite the same thing as facts, but they are often very similar; scientists usually test their theories extensively before airing them, looking for obvious problems which could cause them to be challenged.

In mathematics, theories are bodies of knowledge about specific types of mathematics. Mathematicians use things like set theory in the course of their work. Theoretical mathematics can get quite complex and abstract, making it sometimes difficult for laypeople to understand, but it helps to explain everything from the movement of crowds to the origins of the universe.

In the arts, many artists refer to their non-practical work as theoretical. For example, a musician who plays the tuba would use the term to refer to the study of music history, the math of music, and other related material. Art criticism is also a field of theory, since critics discuss artwork, rather than actively producing it, and through their discussions, they contribute to the overall field.

For laypeople, a theory is simply an idea. Some people use the word like they would “hypothesis,” positing an idea that needs to be tested. At other times, an idea may be dismissed as “just a theory,” with the implication that it cannot be proven and it is only a rough idea, not a firm fact or opinion.

Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the
exciting challenge of being a AllTheScience researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and
spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the
exciting challenge of being a AllTheScience researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and
spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

You might also Like

Recommended

A hypothesis is an assumption, an idea that is proposed for the sake of argument so that it can be tested to see if it might be true.

In the scientific method, the hypothesis is constructed before any applicable research has been done, apart from a basic background review. You ask a question, read up on what has been studied before, and then form a hypothesis.

A hypothesis is usually tentative; it’s an assumption or suggestion made strictly for the objective of being tested.

A theory, in contrast, is a principle that has been formed as an attempt to explain things that have already been substantiated by data. It is used in the names of a number of principles accepted in the scientific community, such as the Big Bang Theory. Because of the rigors of experimentation and control, it is understood to be more likely to be true than a hypothesis is.

In non-scientific use, however, hypothesis and theory are often used interchangeably to mean simply an idea, speculation, or hunch, with theory being the more common choice.

Since this casual use does away with the distinctions upheld by the scientific community, hypothesis and theory are prone to being wrongly interpreted even when they are encountered in scientific contexts—or at least, contexts that allude to scientific study without making the critical distinction that scientists employ when weighing hypotheses and theories.

The most common occurrence is when theory is interpreted—and sometimes even gleefully seized upon—to mean something having less truth value than other scientific principles. (The word law applies to principles so firmly established that they are almost never questioned, such as the law of gravity.)

This mistake is one of projection: since we use theory in general to mean something lightly speculated, then it’s implied that scientists must be talking about the same level of uncertainty when they use theory to refer to their well-tested and reasoned principles.

The distinction has come to the forefront particularly on occasions when the content of science curricula in schools has been challenged—notably, when a school board in Georgia put stickers on textbooks stating that evolution was «a theory, not a fact, regarding the origin of living things.» As Kenneth R. Miller, a cell biologist at Brown University, has said, a theory «doesn’t mean a hunch or a guess. A theory is a system of explanations that ties together a whole bunch of facts. It not only explains those facts, but predicts what you ought to find from other observations and experiments.”

While theories are never completely infallible, they form the basis of scientific reasoning because, as Miller said «to the best of our ability, we’ve tested them, and they’ve held up.»

1 : a plausible or scientifically acceptable general principle or body of principles offered to explain phenomena the wave theory of light. 2a : a belief, policy, or procedure proposed or followed as the basis of action her method is based on the theory that all children want to learn.

What do scientists mean when they use the word theory?

A theory is a carefully thought-out explanation for observations of the natural world that has been constructed using the scientific method, and which brings together many facts and hypotheses. A scientist makes an observation of a natural phenomenon.

What is a scientists theory called?

In other words, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a hypothesis is an idea that hasn’t been proven yet. If enough evidence accumulates to support a hypothesis, it moves to the next step — known as a theory — in the scientific method and becomes accepted as a valid explanation of a phenomenon.

What is theory and why do we need theory?

Theories are vital: They guide and give meaning to what we see. When a researcher investigates and collects information through observation, the investigator needs a clear idea of what information is important to collect. Thus, valid theories are validated by research and are a sound basis for practical action.

Why is theory important in life?

Why theory is important Theory provides concepts to name what we observe and to explain relationships between concepts. Theory allows us to explain what we see and to figure out how to bring about change. Theory is a tool that enables us to identify a problem and to plan a means for altering the situation.

What is the main purpose of theory?

Theories are formulated to explain, predict, and understand phenomena and, in many cases, to challenge and extend existing knowledge within the limits of critical bounding assumptions. The theoretical framework is the structure that can hold or support a theory of a research study.

What are the three components of a good theory?

Theory, its Components and the Criteria for a Good Theory

• The need to organize and give meaning to facts and observations.
• Explain findings within context of existing knowledge.
• Basis for predicting future outcomes/observations.
• Stimulate development of new knowledge: motivation and guidance for asking new questions.

What is an example of a theory?

Example: “It’s bright outside because the sun is probably out.” Theory: A well-substantiated explanation acquired through the scientific method and repeatedly tested and confirmed through observation and experimentation. Example: “When the sun is out, it tends to make it bright outside.”

How do you understand a theory?

How to Read Theory

1. Read theoretical systems. Theories assume a perspective and elaborate that perspective. Try to understand that perspective comprehensively.
2. Read lines of inquiry. Theoretical work also proceeds one problem at a time. Theorists consider problems they see in the theory and work to address those problems.

What is Theory of Mind example?

Theory of mind develops as children gain greater experience with social interactions. For example, by age 4, most children are able to understand that others may hold false beliefs about objects, people, or situations.

What is theory in general?

In everyday use, the word “theory” often means an untested hunch, or a guess without supporting evidence. But for scientists, a theory has nearly the opposite meaning. A theory is a well-substantiated explanation of an aspect of the natural world that can incorporate laws, hypotheses and facts.

What is theory in simple words?

A theory is a group of linked ideas intended to explain something. They can be tested to provide support for, or challenge, the theory. The word ‘theory’ has several meanings: a guess or speculation. a law about things which cannot be seen directly, such as electrons or evolution.

Is a theory an educated guess?

In reality, they are quite different. A hypothesis is an educated guess or prediction about the relationship between two variables. But, because theory is a result of scientifically rigorous research, it is more likely that the theory is true (as compared to a single hypothesis).

What is the difference between a hypothesis and a theory?

Hypothesis: What’s the Difference? A hypothesis proposes a tentative explanation or prediction. Their hypothesis may be proven true or false by testing and experimentation. A theory, on the other hand, is a substantiated explanation for an occurrence..

What is an example of a theory in psychology?

In science, including psychology, a theory is a principle or idea that explains or solves a problem. The theory of evolution, for example, is a general theory that helps to explain where humans came from, the relationships between species, and the changes in species over time.

What are the five types of theory?

Over the years, academics have proposed a number of theories to describe and explain the learning process – these can be grouped into five broad categories:

• Behaviourist.
• Cognitivist.
• Constructivist.
• Experiential.
• Social and contextual.

What are the different types of theory?

Different Types of Psychological Theories

• Grand Theories. Grand theories are those comprehensive ideas often proposed by major thinkers such as Sigmund Freud, Erik Erikson,4 and Jean Piaget.
• Emergent Theories.
• Behavioral Theories.
• Humanistic Theories.
• Personality Theories.
• Social Psychology Theories.

What are the six major psychological theories?

The six Grand Theories in Psychology are: Psychoanalysis, Behaviorism, Cognitivism, Ecological, Humanism, and Evolutionary.

What are the 7 types of psychology?

Here are seven of the major perspectives in modern psychology.

• The Psychodynamic Perspective.
• The Behavioral Perspective.
• The Cognitive Perspective.
• The Biological Perspective.
• The Cross-Cultural Perspective.
• The Evolutionary Perspective.
• The Humanistic Perspective.

What are the 5 psychological concepts?

The five major perspectives in psychology are biological, psychodynamic, behavioral, cognitive and humanistic. Each perspective provides its own view on the roots of why you do what you do.

What are the 7 schools of psychology?

7 Major Schools of Thought in Psychology:

• Structuralism.
• Functionalism.
• Behaviorism.
• Gestalt Psychology.
• Cognitive Psychology.
• Psychoanalysis.
• Humanism.

What are the 3 schools of psychology?

The following are some of the major schools of thought that have influenced our knowledge and understanding of psychology:

• Structuralism and Functionalism: Early Schools of Thought.
• Gestalt Psychology.
• The Behaviorist School of Thought in Psychology.
• The Psychoanalytic School of Thought.
• The Humanistic School of Thought.

What is the best school of thought in psychology?

Cognitive Psychology

Which school of psychology believes in free will?

Skinner. Concepts like “free will” and “motivation” are dismissed as illusions that disguise the real causes of human behavior. In Skinner’s scheme of things the person who commits a crime has no real choice.

Why do we not have free will?

Free will is an illusion. Our wills are simply not of our own making. Thoughts and intentions emerge from background causes of which we are unaware and over which we exert no conscious control. We do not have the freedom we think we have.

Do we really have free will?

At least since the Enlightenment, in the 18th century, one of the most central questions of human existence has been whether we have free will. In the late 20th century, some thought neuroscience had settled the question. However, as it has recently become clear, such was not the case.

Do humans have free will philosophy?

According to John Martin Fischer, human agents do not have free will, but they are still morally responsible for their choices and actions. In a nutshell, Fischer thinks that the kind of control needed for moral responsibility is weaker than the kind of control needed for free will.

Why free will is not an illusion?

Many scientists think that free-will is an illusion. That is, intentions, choices, and decisions are made by subconscious mind, which only lets the conscious mind know what was willed after the fact. This argument was promoted long ago by scholars like Darwin, Huxley, and Einstein.

What is human free will?

Free will, in humans, the power or capacity to choose among alternatives or to act in certain situations independently of natural, social, or divine restraints. Free will is denied by some proponents of determinism.

What is a scientific theory called?

Every scientific theory starts as a hypothesis. If enough evidence accumulates to support a hypothesis, it moves to the next step — known as a theory — in the scientific method and becomes accepted as a valid explanation of a phenomenon.

What is the difference between concept and theory?

Most recent answer. I think that the concepts are initial understanding of set of general ideas about anything based on the observations of phenomena, or image from reality. The theory is a set of concepts ideas hypotheses that explain or interpret phenomena and predict of the its occurrence in future.

How do you use theory in a sentence?

A scientist must produce evidence in support of a theory.

1. In theory, the scheme sounds fine.
2. We decided to test the theory experimentally.
3. This theory makes sense of an otherwise inexplicable phenomenon.
4. Did you ever swallow the conspiracy theory about Kennedy?
5. No serious historian today accepts this theory.

Does a hypothesis turn into a theory?

A hypothesis is not a prediction. A theory is not necessarily a well-supported explanation. A (causal) hypothesis does not become a theory if it subsequently becomes well-supported by evidence.

Is an educated guess a theory?

Is an educated guess about what will happen?

The hypothesis is an educated guess as to what will happen during your experiment. The hypothesis is often written using the words “IF” and “THEN.” For example, “If I do not study, then I will fail the test.” The “if’ and “then” statements reflect your independent and dependent variables.

What is an educated guess called?

Another term for an educated guess is an inference.

Why do scientists have to be creative?

all scientists must use their imagination when contributing to the development of science. scientific theories are created in many different ways. The processes are sometimes highly creative and/or highly logic, rational and/or accidental. in science creativity and rationality always work together.

Is science a creative process?

The scientific method is a way to explore a problem, form and test a hypothesis, and answer questions. The creative process creates, interprets, and expresses art. Both the scientific method and the creative process are described through examples of scientists and artists in different areas.

What are the benefits of creative play?

The benefits of creative play

• Language and Communication Development. Children can expand their vocabulary and experiment freely with words in their own space and time, without the risk of embarrassment if they use the words incorrectly.
• Emotional Development.
• Physical Development.
• Thinking Skills.
• Intellectual Benefits.

What are the benefits of creative thinking?

7 WAYS WE BENEFIT FROM CREATIVITY

• BECOME A BETTER PROBLEM SOLVER. There isn’t a manual to being an artist, and there isn’t a manual for being alive.
• CONNECT WITH YOUR COMMUNITY.
• SAVE MONEY.
• EXPANDED SENSE OF TIME.
• SELF AWARENESS & EXPRESSION.
• FREEDOM.
• STRESS RELIEF.

Why do employers look for creativity?

Employers want creative thinkers because it benefits their bottom line. Companies that foster creativity may see more revenue growth.

What are the benefits of creative thinking in the workplace?

Specific benefits of creativity in the workplace include:

• Better teamwork and team bonding;
• Increased workplace engagement and interaction;
• Improved ability to attract and retain quality employees;
• Increased staff morale, fun and happiness; and.
• Increased workplace problem solving and productivity.

A ‘theory’ is a proposed causal explanation of an event or series of events. Technically speaking we can never ‘see’ causation; the best we can do is make a more (or sometimes less) informed guess about the underlying mechanism of causation. That guess is a theory.

Scientists, philosophers, scholars, intellectuals, and the like try to make theories that are robust: that seem to be functional across a range of cases and contexts. Regular people aren’t quite as concerned with robustness; they are satisfied with theories that seem to make sense, or that conform to some particular narrative. Because scientists are constantly competing with each other to produce robust theories, scientific theories are generally far more functional and far more applicable than lay theories about the same subject. That intrinsic functionality gives scientific theories the countenance of truth. Even though scientific theories are not ‘true’ per se, they have survived active engagement with numerous attempts to tear them down, replace them, alter them, etc. Lay theories only persist because the passively or actively avoid engaging opposition.

Princeton’s WordNetRate this definition:3.2 / 10 votes

1. theorynoun

   a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world; an organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena

   «theories can incorporate facts and laws and tested hypotheses»; «true in fact and theory»

2. hypothesis, possibility, theorynoun

   a tentative insight into the natural world; a concept that is not yet verified but that if true would explain certain facts or phenomena

   «a scientific hypothesis that survives experimental testing becomes a scientific theory»; «he proposed a fresh theory of alkalis that later was accepted in chemical practices»

3. theorynoun

   a belief that can guide behavior

   «the architect has a theory that more is less»; «they killed him on the theory that dead men tell no tales»

WiktionaryRate this definition:4.2 / 9 votes

1. theorynoun

   Mental conception; reflection, consideration.

2. theorynoun

   A coherent statement or set of ideas that explains observed facts or phenomena, or which sets out the laws and principles of something known or observed; a hypothesis confirmed by observation, experiment etc.

3. theorynoun

   The underlying principles or methods of a given technical skill, art etc., as opposed to its practice.

4. theorynoun

   A field of study attempting to exhaustively describe a particular class of constructs.

   Knot theory classifies the mappings of a circle into 3-space.

5. theorynoun

   A hypothesis or conjecture.

6. theorynoun

   A set of axioms together with all statements derivable from them. Equivalently, a formal language plus a set of axioms (from which can then be derived theorems).

   A theory is consistent if it has a model.

Samuel Johnson’s DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. THEORYnoun

   Speculation; not practice; scheme; plan or system yet subsisting only in the mind.

   Etymology: theorie, Fr. ϑεωρία.

   If they had been themselves to execute their own theory in this church, they would have seen being nearer at hand.
   Richard Hooker, b. v.

   In making gold, the means hitherto propounded to effect it are in the practice full of errour, and in the theory full of unsound imagination.
   Francis Bacon, Nat. Hist. №. 326.

   Practice alone divides the world into virtuous and vicious; but as to the theory and speculation of virtue and vice, mankind are much the same.
   Robert South, Sermons.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:4.2 / 6 votes

1. Theorynoun

   a doctrine, or scheme of things, which terminates in speculation or contemplation, without a view to practice; hypothesis; speculation

2. Theorynoun

   an exposition of the general or abstract principles of any science; as, the theory of music

3. Theorynoun

   the science, as distinguished from the art; as, the theory and practice of medicine

4. Theorynoun

   the philosophical explanation of phenomena, either physical or moral; as, Lavoisier’s theory of combustion; Adam Smith’s theory of moral sentiments

FreebaseRate this definition:2.4 / 5 votes

1. Theory

   Theory is a contemplative and rational type of abstract or generalizing thinking, or the results of such thinking. Depending on the context, the results might for example include generalized explanations of how nature works. The word has its roots in ancient Greek, but in modern use it has taken on several different related meanings. A theory is not the same as a hypothesis, as a theory is a ‘proven’ hypothesis, that, in other words, has never been disproved through experiment, and has a basis in fact.
   One modern group of meanings emphasizes the speculative and generalizing nature of theory. For example in the arts and philosophy, the term «theoretical» may be used to describe ideas and empirical phenomena which are not easily measurable. And by extension of the philosophical meaning, «theoria» is also a word still used in theological contexts. As already in Aristotle’s definitions, theory is very often contrasted to «practice» a Greek term for «doing», which is opposed to theory because pure theory involves no doing apart from itself. A classical example of the distinction between theoretical and practical uses the discipline of medicine: medical theory involves trying to understand the causes and nature of health and sickness, while the practical side of medicine is trying to make people healthy. These two things are related but can be independent, because it is possible to research health and sickness without curing specific patients, and it is possible to cure a patient without knowing how the cure worked.

The New Hacker’s DictionaryRate this definition:4.0 / 1 vote

1. theory

   The consensus, idea, plan, story, or set of rules that is currently
   being used to inform a behavior. This usage is a generalization and
   (deliberate) abuse of the technical meaning. “What’s the theory on
   fixing this TECO loss?” “What’s the theory on dinner
   tonight?” (“Chinatown, I guess.”) “What’s the
   current theory on letting lusers on during the day?” “The
   theory behind this change is to fix the following well-known
   screw….”

Editors ContributionRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. theory

   A conceptual framework established for a given phenomenon.

   Theory of motivation

   Submitted by anonymous on July 24, 2019  

Matched Categories

1. • Belief
   • Explanation

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word ‘theory’ in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #724

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word ‘theory’ in Written Corpus Frequency: #1839

3. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word ‘theory’ in Nouns Frequency: #228

How to pronounce theory?

How to say theory in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of theory in Chaldean Numerology is: 6

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of theory in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1

Examples of theory in a Sentence

1. H.L. Mencken:

   Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want and deserve to get it good and hard.

2. James Carville:

   I’ve never met Kyrsten Sinema, I have no idea what the hell Kyrsten Sinema’s thinking, i’ve talked to people who know Kyrsten Sinema and the only theory they have that makes any sense is that Kyrsten Sinema views Kyrsten Sinema as some kind McCain-esque maverick. But look, I ’m out of gas on this one. I really am.

3. Nicole Neily:

   Claims that bans on critical race theory prohibit ‘teaching about racism in schools’ are factually inaccurate — and that’s not, in fact, what parents or legislators oppose at all, people object to the rampant discrimination taking place in America’s schools that treat children differently on the basis of immutable characteristics such as race and gender – which is something that all Americans should oppose, because to do so is both immoral and unconstitutional.

4. Caleb Alexander:

   To make the case that something is better than nothing is not the law of the land in United States. That’s not the evidentiary basis for market access. They have to show substantial evidence of efficacy, and they didn’t, you can argue that, theoretically, that this drug should work, but we don’t approve drugs on that basis in United States. We do it based on data, not based on theory.

5. Mike White:

   We’ll go day-to-day but anything is possible, it goes back to that whole theory of, the difference between player A and player Z is an opportunity and reps. That’s what this league is. That’s professional sports.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

---

Translations for theory

From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary

• نظريةArabic
• teoriaCatalan, Valencian
• teorieCzech
• TheorieGerman
• θεωρίαGreek
• teoríaSpanish
• نظریه, تئوریPersian
• teoriaFinnish
• théorieFrench
• teoiricIrish
• beachd-smaoinScottish Gaelic
• सिद्धान्तHindi
• teoriHaitian Creole
• elméletHungarian
• teoriaItalian
• 推論, 理論, 見解, 推測, 憶測, 定理, 学説Japanese
• ទ្រឹស្ដីKhmer
• теоријаMacedonian
• teorijaMaltese
• theorieDutch
• teoriNorwegian
• teoriaPolish
• teoriaPortuguese
• teorie, teoriiRomanian
• гипотеза, теорияRussian
• tèōrija, тѐо̄ријаSerbo-Croatian
• teoriSwedish
• கோட்பாடுTamil
• సిద్ధాంతంTelugu
• نظریہUrdu
• teorod, teorVolapük
• טעאָריעYiddish
• 理論Chinese

Get even more translations for theory »

Translation

Find a translation for the theory definition in other languages:

Select another language:

• — Select —
• 简体中文 (Chinese — Simplified)
• 繁體中文 (Chinese — Traditional)
• Español (Spanish)
• Esperanto (Esperanto)
• 日本語 (Japanese)
• Português (Portuguese)
• Deutsch (German)
• العربية (Arabic)
• Français (French)
• Русский (Russian)
• ಕನ್ನಡ (Kannada)
• 한국어 (Korean)
• עברית (Hebrew)
• Gaeilge (Irish)
• Українська (Ukrainian)
• اردو (Urdu)
• Magyar (Hungarian)
• मानक हिन्दी (Hindi)
• Indonesia (Indonesian)
• Italiano (Italian)
• தமிழ் (Tamil)
• Türkçe (Turkish)
• తెలుగు (Telugu)
• ภาษาไทย (Thai)
• Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
• Čeština (Czech)
• Polski (Polish)
• Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian)
• Românește (Romanian)
• Nederlands (Dutch)
• Ελληνικά (Greek)
• Latinum (Latin)
• Svenska (Swedish)
• Dansk (Danish)
• Suomi (Finnish)
• فارسی (Persian)
• ייִדיש (Yiddish)
• հայերեն (Armenian)
• Norsk (Norwegian)
• English (English)

Word of the Day

Would you like us to send you a FREE new word definition delivered to your inbox daily?

---

Citation

Use the citation below to add this definition to your bibliography:

Theoretically speaking, there is widespread confusion about the word «theory.» Right?

Many people interpret the word as iffy knowledge, based mostly on speculative thinking. It is used indiscriminately to indicate things we know — that is, based on solid empirical evidence — and things we aren’t sure about. Not a good mix at all, especially when certain theories speak directly to people’s religious and value-based sensitivities, such as the «theory of evolution» or «Big Bang theory.» There is also the danger of falling for meaning traps set by groups with specific agendas.

Looking at the New Oxford American Dictionary (NOAD) listing for «theory» doesn’t help:

• a supposition or a system of ideas intended to explain something, especially one based on general principles independent of the thing to be explained: Darwin’s theory of evolution.
• A set of principles on which the practice of an activity is based: a theory of education.
• An idea used to account for a situation or justify a course of action: my theory would be that…

So, there is usage within a scientific context («the theory of…») and in a subjective context («my theory is…») — an obvious problem.

When used in the context of a phrase, as «in theory,» it gets worse. According to NOAD, «used in describing what is supposed to happen or be possible, usually with the implication that it does not in fact happen.» [My italics.] Clearly, in this context, «in theory» means something that is probably wrong.

No wonder there is confusion. It is confusing!

A first step in trying to clarify the meaning(s) of theory is to understand in which context the word is being used, and to keep different contexts separate. So, if a scientist is using the word theory, as in «theory of relativity,» «theory of evolution,» or «Big Bang theory,» it should be understood as a statement within a scientific context. In this case, a theory is certainly NOT mere subjective speculation, or something that is probably wrong, but, quite the contrary, something that has been scrutinized by the scientific process of empirical validation and has, so far, passed the test of explaining the data.

Unfortunately, even within the scientific context the word is misused, which only adds to the confusion. For example, «superstring theory» refers to a speculative theory in high-energy physics where the fundamental building blocks of matter are not elementary particles but tiny vibrating tubes of energy. Given the lack of empirical support so far for the idea, «superstring hypothesis» would be a much more appropriate characterization. Scientists may know the status of the hypothesis, but most people won’t. We should be more careful.

A scientific theory is an accumulated body of knowledge constructed to describe specific natural phenomena, such as the force of gravity or biodiversity, that has been vetted by the scientific community. It is the best that we can come up with to make sense of nature at a given time.

Mind you, as our understanding of natural phenomena change, theories can change as well. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the old theories are wrong. It usually means that the old theories have a limited range of validity not covered by newly discovered phenomena. For example, Newton’s theory of gravity works really well to send rocket ships to Neptune, but not to describe a black hole. New theories are born from the cracks in old ones.

Unfortunately, suspicion of certain scientific theories can come from confusing subjective speculation with objective description. A scientific theory is different from a scientific hypothesis. A scientific hypothesis is an idea not yet empirically tested and, hence, still not vetted by the scientific community. A theory is a hypothesis that has been tested and vetted.

Much popular confusion could be avoided if the word theory would be understood within the right context. The often-used trap of exploring the double meaning of the word theory to confuse or willfully misguide popular opinion should only catch those who don’t know, or choose to neglect, what theory means within its scientific or subjective context.

Marcelo Gleiser is a theoretical physicist and cosmologist — and professor of natural philosophy, physics and astronomy at Dartmouth College. He is the co-founder of 13.7, a prolific author of papers and essays, and active promoter of science to the general public. His latest book is The Island of Knowledge: The Limits of Science and the Search for Meaning. You can keep up with Marcelo on Facebook and Twitter: @mgleiser.