ABSTRACT
As is common with many research terms, the word “theory” is viewed diff erently when considered within the context of research endeavors than when it is used in everyday discourse. Wikipedia (2010) states that “in everyday language a theory means a hunch or speculation” (para. 1), while its scientifi c defi - nition carries a much more stringent requirement. When used in the empirical realm, the purpose of a theory is to explain a set of circumstances with a reliable degree of accuracy. In an
everyday encounter, we would have no qualms about expressing our personal theory that the cloud confi gurations seen on a given day will most likely lead to rain, as few of our listeners will hold us accountable if the clouds suddenly clear and the sun emerges. Unless we are meteorology school graduates, our theory about the weather is viewed as simply a guess based on our past experiences. In this case, the weather theory we so nonchalantly utter is not held to any sort of scientifi c certainty.
