Theory, practice, research: Casual acquaintances or a seamless whole?

Abstract

This paper challenges the positivist conception of the relationship between theory, practice and research which implicitly separates theory, practice and research even where there have been explicit attempts to achieve their integration. It will be argued that the theory, research and practice processes are inseparable and that a failure to recognise this leads to missing important elements of the inquiry process which limits and distorts the process. The more sophisticated post-positivist position which has emerged recently also fails to avoid these problems. Rather than critique the positivist position from another paradigmatic vantage point, an immanent critique is developed which reformulates the positivist approach from within its own principles. The reformulated positivism involves an explicit action and participatory orientation to the practice-theory-research process.