Post reflection- theme 3

This theme was quite different from previous ones, as in this week we chose paper by ourselves and then analyzed the chosen paper in the perspective of ‘Theory’. I read the paper, ‘The benefits of Facebook “Friends”: Social Capital and College Students’ Use of Online Social Network Sites’ and then discussed this paper in seminar, which came up to discuss the difference between theory and hypothesis. I have learned that theory is something about assumptions and then analyze these assumption, but based on these assumptions hypothesis can be created.

Overall in this theme, I have learned that ‘what is theory’. During seminar we discussed theory in different perspectives and Leif tried to clear our concept about theory. I understand theory is a possible answer to why and how. Theory is not a hypothesis but an explanation of the observation. But this explanations give birth to several hypotheses that can be right or wrong. In scientific perspective, theory is a set of propositions which explains phenomena. In psychology, theories are used to provide a model for understanding human thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. Theory is also a synonym of algorithm to see that whether the picture have reality or not. It is also important to understand the difference between ‘Knowledge’ and ‘Theory’. The relationship about theory and knowledge is very hard to interpret, but during seminar we discussed very easy example to understand this difference. For example, if we say ‘the wall is green’ this statement came up from spectrum of colours so it is knowledge. But why and how it is green that is theory. The term theory refers to the word viewing which means see something critically.

A theory provides an explanatory framework for some observation, and from the assumptions of the explanation follows a number of possible hypotheses that can be tested in order to provide support for, or challenge, the theory. After this theme, I believe that now I understand the word theory.