Identifying Relevant Theories and Methods

Researchers are strongly advised to reflect on the theories and methods likely implicated in their research question. If instead researchers are guided entirely by the existing literature, they risk omitting theories and methods simply because previous researchers have ignored these. After surveying the literature they will then be able to identify theories or methods that should have received more attention.

It is thus useful for the interdisciplinarian to have access to comprehensive lists of the theories and methods employed by scholars. It is further useful to have access to an analysis of some of the key strengths and weaknesses of different theory types and methods, and types of data. Since there are literally thousands of theories out there, and new ones are invented frequently, we cannot attempt an exhaustive classification of theories. But we can develop a typology of theory types, and reflect on their strengths and weaknesses.

Classifying Theories

Classifying Methods

Since methods are classified here along similar dimensions as theories, it is possible to establish empirically that disciplines choose mutually compatible sets of theory and method (as would be expected from our discussion of Defining Disciplinary Perspective ). The fact that disciplines choose methods that are generally biased in favor of their theories is a powerful motive for applying multiple methods [See Performing Mixed Methods Research]