Growth Pole And Thomas Malthus: Analytical Research In Architectural Theory

Abstract

This study examines the definition of theory and the implication it has for the theory-building research, theory must have four basic criteria: conceptual definition, Domain, limitations, relationship buildings, and predictions. The theory is vital because it provides a framework for analysis; facilitates the efficient development of the field, and is needed for the applicability to practical real-world problems. To be a good theory, a theory must follow the virtues (criteria) for "good" theory, including uniqueness, parsimony, conservation, generalizability, fecundity, internal consistency, empirical riskiness and abstraction, which apply to all research methods. Theory research seeks to find similarities across many different domains to increase its abstraction level and importance. The procedure for good theory research follows the definition of theory: it defines the variables, specifies the domain, builds internal consistency relationships makes specific predictions, and explains how theories are used; especially the theory of forms was extensively dealt with. Again, the study explained the use and application of theories in quantitative and qualitative research in architecture. Finally, two social science theories: Francois Perroux and Thomas Malthus, in their growth pole theory and Malthus's theory of population respectively, were used to explain how Imo State Polytechnic as a growth pole institution has attracted a lot of architecture edifices around the environment, thereby encouraging development explosion. Following Malthus's theory of population the rapid use of land which is fixed, for architectural practices was also noted. It is recommended that air spaces should be used more than land spaces; otherwise, time shall come when land spaces will become scarce.