The interplay between theory and method Van Maanen, Sørensen and Mitchell
8 important questions on The interplay between theory and method Van Maanen, Sørensen and Mitchell
Van Maanen, sorensen and mitchel highlight the interaction between theory and method, what exactly is this interaction?
o Methods without theoretical substance can be sterile, representing technical sophistication in isolation.
o Theory can drive method through its level of analysis, its stage of articulation, the types of constructs it proposes, and its descriptive or prescriptive nature.
Altough theory and method should be related, this also brings issues, what are these issues?
- Articles about how to develop and write about theory often emphasize processes and strategies that are relatively independent of methods.
- There is a large pool of theories/school of thoughts while the resources to research everything is limited, therefore choices have to be made to research what. The problem therefore is how to balance new theory while sustaining high standards.
Standard ordering of the research process rarley takes place, the different parts are in continuous interplay why is this the case?
- Theory --> Method --> Theory is an ideal unrealistic scenario
- Method can generate and shape theory, just as theory can generate and shape method
- There is a back-and-forth character in which concepts, conjectures, and data are in continuous interplay
- Empirical studies generate data which can be used in theorizing
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Through which drives, drives theory method?
- Through research design (How to approach the research and how to balance theory and evidence)
- Through choice of measures (How to measure data correctly based on the type of research)
- Through samples (how to select a representative sample)
How does method drive theory?
--> provide new theoretical insights
All researchers struggle with deciding when they should be true to their theory and when they should be true to their data, what is their struggle?
- If we pay too much attention to available or potentially available data, we are trapped by operations, and theorizing is stifled.
- If we pay no attention to data, our theorizing will be rather too remote and will occur all on the conceptual plane.
- In either case, the potential interplay between method and theory is limited.
- The key: find a way to serve both, using research methods as a central role as they are designed to serve both theory and evidence
What is the role of abductive reasoning?
- Discovery rests primarily on abductive reasoning
- Unmet expectations are clues that motivate theorizing, and, precisely for this reason, they are to be welcomed and embrached by researchers
- A path of critical reasoning in which conjectures follow surprises
Why does interplay between theory and method happens in a context defind by customers of research?
o How does this shape the character of the research that is performed?
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