Studying Reality: The Application of Theory in an Aspect of UK Practice
Abstract
This paper contributes to the ongoing debate about the nature of the relationship between theory and practice. It reviews traditional approaches, considers more recent ones, both within and beyond the archival domain, and concludes that the relationship is a dynamic one. It offers a case study on the investigation of the application of appraisal theory in a range of UK archives, which demonstrates that training, experience, and intuition are of as much use as theory to some practitioners, although responses are often shaped by the archives’ organizational setting.
RÉSUMÉ
Ce texte contribue aux débats continus sur la nature du lien entre la théorie et la pratique. Il revoit les approches traditionnelles, il considère les plus récentes tant dans le domaine de l’archivistique qu’au-delà, et il conclut que le lien est dynamique. Il offre une étude de cas sur l’analyse d’une application de la théorie de l’évaluation archivistique dans un éventail d’archives britanniques qui révèle que la formation, l’expérience et l’intuition sont tout aussi utiles que la théorie pour certains praticiens, même si les réponses sont souvent colorées par le contexte organisationnel du centre d’archives.
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