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The first position holds that meaningful practical experimentation depends upon first formulating a theory which will make predictions (see hypothesis ) which you can then test by empirical investigation, for the further refinement (if not immediate endorsement or complete abandonment) of the original theory. The second position holds that it is helpful to conduct empirical investigations before formulating an explicit theory (that would permit precise prediction and hypothesis testing), on the grounds that empirical investigation motivated by informed speculation may itself be productive for theory-building. In practice a cyclical relationship is typically found. (See research methodology .) ( 1991 ). An Introduction to Second Language Acquisition Research . London : Longman . ( 1973 ). Theory construction for research on teaching . In ), Second Handbook of Research on Teaching . Chicago : Rand McNally , 77 – 112 . ... log in or subscribe to read full text