Theory I

"Nothing is so practical as a good theory." (Kurt Lewin). This week we examine what a theory is, along with related concepts of models, hypotheses, propositions and assumptions. We look at the characteristics of good theories, and the role of theory in shaping research design.

Come to class with a detailed example of a good theory. Be prepared to explain the theory, and explain why you think it is so good. In addition, be prepared to discuss these questions:

• what are the characteristics of a good theory?

• what is the relationship between hypotheses are theory?

• what's a model?

Other topics I will bring up:

• formal theory

• deductive and inductive processes

• the variance and process model distinction

• falsifiability

Primary Readings

• Lave, Charles A., and James G. March. 1993(1975). The Evaluation of Speculations. Chap. 3 of An Introduction to Models in the Social Sciences. New York: University Press of America. - Chap. 3, pp 52-79. [pdf of chap 2&3] [may also want to try google books]

  • Note: Chap 3 references Chap 2, so you might want to read both

  • Lave & March. Theorizing

  • Lave & March. How to Theorize

• Stinchcombe, A. L. (1991). The conditions of fruitfulness of theorizing about mechanisms in social science. Philosophy of the social sciences, 21(3), 367-388. [pdf]

Secondary Readings

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

• Whetten, D. A. (1989). What constitutes a theoretical contribution?. Academy of management review, 14(4), 490-495.

• Middle Range Theory (wikipedia)

Additional

• Festinger, L., & Carlsmith, J. M. (1959). Cognitive consequences of forced compliance. The Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 58(2), 203. [html]. This paper derives a non-obvious implication of cognitive dissonance theory and then does a nice experimental test.