Whetten 1989 - What constitutes a theoretical contribution

6 important questions on Whetten 1989 - What constitutes a theoretical contribution

How do you judge if you have the right 'what' factors?

Through Comprehensiveness and Parsimony.
Comprehensiveness; are all relevant factors included.
Parsimony; Should some factors be deleted because they add little value?

Too many is preffered over too few because deleting unneccessary factors is easier than justifying additional ones.

What constitutes the 'how' factor of theory development?

How are the factors are related to each other? I.e. Possible causal relationships

Think of operationalisation of concepts (arrows and boxes)

What constitutes the 'Why' factor of theory development?

What are the underlying psychological, economic, or social dynamics that justify the selection of factors and the proposed causal relationships?

i.e. The assumptions,
Answering the question; Why should colleagues give credence to this particular representation of the phenomena?

The 'why' changes the discussion from empirical to theoretical.
  • Higher grades + faster learning
  • Never study anything twice
  • 100% sure, 100% understanding
Discover Study Smart

What do the 'Who, where, when' elements of theory development embody?

They place limitations on the propostions generated from a theoretical model.

Set boundaries of generalisability.

What are some simple mental tests of the generalisability of core propositions?

If theoretical effects vary over time (time dependend variables)
Sensitivity to context (think of qualitative research)

How can you demonstrate the value of a proposed change in a list of factors of already existing theory?

Identify how this change affects the accepted relationships between the variables (the hows).
Just the addition of a new variable does not constitute a theoretical contribution.

The question on the page originate from the summary of the following study material:

  • A unique study and practice tool
  • Never study anything twice again
  • Get the grades you hope for
  • 100% sure, 100% understanding
Remember faster, study better. Scientifically proven.
Trustpilot Logo