Theory and Practice Always Come Together

Author : Mary Anne Winslow
Theory is originally a Greek word that meant research or survey. Nowadays theory is defined as systematization of knowledge, scheme that possesses predictable force in relation to any phenomenon. Theories are given definitions, are being developed, studied and tested in accordance with scientific method. Practice also comes from Greek language and meant expedient and goal oriented. Practice is an activity which is realized by the subject for achieving particular aim defined in advance. Practice has social and historic character and depends on the level of society development, its social and class structure, goals of practically active subject and is always defined by the society after all.Theories are cognitive processes that are about how things in our world might be working. They are collections of thoughts and research which is then wrote about with that researchers slant on the theory. In order to become useful the theories need to be read and then some how applied to practise.A social theory when looked up in the dictionary suggests that it is 'an account of the world that goes beyond what we can see or measure. It embraces a set of interrelated definitions and relationships that organises our concepts of and understanding of the empirical world in a systematic way.A theory is relatively a system of ideas explaining something, based on general principles. Both of these definitions are all very well but they both fail on the fact that they do not tell us how to relate the ideas that they put forward and express them in our own world.Practise is an 'action or execution as apposed to a theory. Practise is the 'doing' part. Here you are in the 'real world' and you need to be able to act within your world. The practise side is the 'physical' where it is important that you are able to act upon all the situations thrown upon you and relate to them.By simply using these definitions they both fail to show us how they relate to each other. They really at first glance appear to be total opposites. I am therefore now going to look at both sides of the argument, whether theory is directly linked to practise or whether theory and practise are two separate entities not related in any way.
For many years there has been a debate as to how, if they actually are, theory and practise are linked. Do both theory and practice go hand in hand with each other or they both exist in a separate entity. Both being separate parts and not being able to relate to each other in any way.The mechanistic approach states that they count as one and that you can't have practise without theory. Theory is needed to ground the practise on.The dynamic approach states that they both are very separate items and are not linked.The idea that theory is directly linked to practise is held by many practitioners. They believe that there is a balance running from pure practise to undiluted theory. Meaning that neither practise nor theory can exist in their true forms but they dilute each other in a balancing motion.Saying that pure theory exists is like saying that space actually exists. It can not be proved now but maybe in the future. Also to have pure theory you need to have no human engagement, for obvious reasons this is not possible. In the same way pure practise can not exist. It is impossible not to use any one else's theory or to intervene into a situation without prior purpose or thought. This would be impossible to do. In order to intervene you must have grounds on which your going to do it therefore you must have used some sort of or kind of theory. By having them both linked it enables them to work side by side.If we were to simply use practise with no theory then basically we would be acting out of common sense. Common sense is a very risky way to operate because it is based upon individual experiences and the individuals slant on the world. Often simply by acting using common sense the practitioner would be acting without reflection or analysis which is not the best of ideas within Community and Youth Work.Some argue that theories are about how to get to where a plan can be executed. Theories are practically useless sat upon a shelf in a book. They need to be read and then used as a stepping stone into the 'real world' and as a tool within practise, in the same way that instruction manuals are read before attempting to use the new piece of equipment. In the same way a drill manual is o good without the actual drill. Both practise and theory are no good on their own. If you just believe in theories then because they are very 'narrow' in subject area you stand the problem of not being able to be flexible within different situations. By using both theory and practise as a basis for your knowledge your ability becomes a lot more flexible and eventually you become able to adapt your knowledge practically too any situation thrown at you.Theory is not only just the product of information but it can also shape experience as well. We are endlessly testing theories against practise/reality. 'A theory is developed; specific hypotheses derived from that theory are tested; based on the results obtained, the theory is revised and new hypotheses are formed.' We share our theories and ideas of theories with our colleagues in the work place and are therefore constantly reflecting and increasing our knowledge of theories.On the other hand theory is not linked with practise. There is a big split present and there is no way of bridging the gap.Theory is something which is learnt at university, college or in formal situations, usually in a classroom setting. Practise on the other hand is based in the 'real world.' You can forget all those theories; you're in the real world now. They are both totally different. Theory becomes irrelevant in the world of work. It has no status; it addresses inferior items not superior items. Theory is unable to quantise on outcomes. Most people have problems addressing theories due to the fact that they don't address issues only topics for which they were wrote for.Take for example the Barnett's in the 1880's. They had this theory that by moving the rich and poor in together in an area of London they could create a beautiful town which would therefore create beautiful people because they all wanted to live there and had chosen it themselves. When put into practise the theory was not at all correct and showed that theory can not be linked with practise. Due to the fact that they do not produce the same outcome. The Barnett's believed that by each class seeing the other way of living it would reduce the amount of crime and petty stealing. In practise it did not and just backs up the idea that the two elements are not linked at all.By simply acting using process driven practise and no theory in the 'real world' it allows immense flexibility in all situations and enables the worker to work freely, although it demands a highly versatile and competent worker, who is confident on reasoning.Mary Anne Winslow is a member of Essay Writing Service counselling department team and a dissertation writing consultant. Contact her to get free counselling on custom essay writing.
Keyword : theory, practice