"There is nothing so practical as a good theory." -- Kurt Lewin

Topics

How to theorize. What is a good theory?  Inductive vs deducting theorizing.  Explorative data analysis.  Where to find inspiration.

Readings

• Lave, Charles A., and James G. March. 1993(1975). An Introduction to Models in the Social Sciences. New York: University Press of America. Chapters 1`-3. [new & improved link; ignore the highlighting -- it is somebody else's].

  • Qualities of a good theory [html]

  • Handout on how to theorize [html]

• Sutton, R. I., & Staw, B. M. (1995). What theory is not. Administrative Science Quarterly, 40(3), 371-384. 

• Granovetter, M. S. (1973). The strength of weak ties. American journal of sociology, 78(6), 1360-1380. [Note the element of surprise in the title]

Homework

• Following Lave and March, make an observation (e.g., find a correlation between X and Y), and then build two or three competing theories to explain the result. These theories can be your own theories, or drawn from the literature. Also, the observation doesn't have to be a known, incontrovertible fact. For example, you might claim that democrats are more likely than republicans to own yellow cars. Now construct a couple of derivations from each of your theories that would help distinguish between them (see the Lave and March book for examples). Write this up and email it me on the Tuesday before class. 

• student theories. Let me know if I failed to include your answer.

Discussion Question

• Does an SEM diagram constitute theory?

Optional Readings

• Weick, K. E. (1995). What theory is not, theorizing is.

• Saetre, A.S., Van de Ven, A. 2021. Generating theory by abduction. Academy of Management Review, 46(4): 684-701.

• Whetten, D. A. (1989). What Constitutes a Theoretical Contribution? Academy of Management Review, 14, 490-495.

• Martínez-Peña and Ylikoski. 2024. Coupling social and ecological mechanisms with the Coleman boat. Ecology and Society 29(4):6.

Class notes

• Theory