As a layman, I am just curious about the difference between a theory and a method.

You are welcome.

Yeah, right. Thank you so much!

Let’s put it in this way. The concepts of ‘theory’ and ‘method’ are independent and interrelated. As independent concepts, a theory is a hypothesis, an idea, or a prediction about what can or might happen in certain situations. A method is what the social worker does when working with a client. In simple terms, a theory is what you think about a specific situation and what you speculate might occur based on that situation, and a method is what you give your thoughts or speculations about a situation. As interrelated concepts, a theory often informs social workers as to the type of method they should use with clients in certain situations. A theory assists social workers in understanding various situations, difficulties, behaviors, and experiences, and a method instructs the social worker on what to do in response to the identified phenomenon.