Theory, Evidence, Belief, and Bias
The purpose of this discussion is to contrast theories, evidence, beliefs and biases. Prepare and post a response to the following questions:
- Define what a theory is. What is the goal of a theory? What are the components of a theory?
- Describe how we know if a theory is valid. What is evidence or data? Where does evidence/data come from? What role does evidence/data play in understanding a theory?
- Contrast a theory from a personal belief. What are the practical uses for a theory, and what are the practical uses for beliefs? Which is more likely to represent a bias, a theory or a belief? Explain.
Your initial post should be at least 250 words in length. Support your claims with examples from the required material(s) and/or other scholarly resources, and properly cite any references.