In quantitative research strategy, the principal orientation to the role of theory in relation to research is

In quantitative research the principal orientation to theory is deductive, moving from theory to hypothesis to data.

Inductive reasoning, running from data to theory, is the hallmark of qualitative research instead.

Objectivism is an ontological position about external reality, not an orientation of theory to research.

Constructionism is the ontology of qualitative research, again not a theory-research orientation.

The deductive logic tests pre-formed hypotheses against collected evidence.

Deduction and induction are frequently combined in an iterative research cycle.