Ten Strategies for Locating Theories Locating Theories Video: 11 min. 15 sec.

Strategy 1: In-Depth Knowledge of the Topic Lit review

Strategy 2: Search Terms

Theory in the Title and/or Abstract

Sample Titles

Theoretical lens Terminology When Discusssing Theories Theoretical framework Conceptual framework Orienting lens No theory Theory rationale Foundational theory Paradigm Theory??? Grounded theory Theoretical perspective Theory base Critical reflexive theory

Theoretical lens Strategy 3: Truncating theor* Theoretical framework Conceptual framework Orienting lens No theory Theory rationale Foundational theory Paradigm Theories??? Grounded theory Theoretical perspective Theory base Critical reflexive theory

Truncation

Theoretical lens Strategy 4: Locating Synonyms and Alternative Terms Theoretical framework Conceptual framework Orienting lens No theory Theory rationale Foundational theory Paradigm Theories??? Grounded theory Theoretical perspective Theory base Critical reflexive theory

Using the Boolean OR theor* OR paradigm* OR “orienting lens”

Using the Boolean OR theor* OR paradigm* OR “orienting lens” theor* paradigm* OR “orienting lens” OR “conceptual framework”

Strategy 5: Boolean AND for Additional Concepts theor* OR paradigm* OR “orienting lens”

Strategy 6: Search the Text of the Document

All Fields + Text

Finding Theories in Dissertations

Try theor -- Do not include the asterisk here. Use the FIND Option

Searching for Specific Terms

Theories in E-Books

Searching for Your Term Within E-Books

Keyword Matches

Strategy 7: Subject-Specific Databases Business, management, leadership, organizational behavior – ABI/Inform, Business Source Complete, Emerald Computers and technology – ACM, IEEE, ScienceDirect Education – ERIC Medicine – Medline Nursing and allied health -- CINAHL Psychology – PsycINFO Speech language pathology – Linguistics and Language Behavior

Other disciplines

Example: Problem Patrons ERIC ERIC CINAHL Discipline-Specific Databases Medline PsycINFO Medline PsycINFO ABI/Inform ABI/Inform

PsycINFO

Strategy 8: Other Types of Sources

Theories Discussed in Encyclopedia Articles

Transformational Leadership Theories

Social Theory Database

Strategy 9: Locating Theories Used in Qualitative and Quantitative Research The use of a theory varies between qualitative and quantitative methods:  Quantitative methods: Theories are presented - then tested to explain, predict, or establish causal relations between variables.  Qualitative methods: Theories are presented to serve as a “lens” which then guides what is looked at and how questions are developed. Theories can also be generated as seen in grounded theory approaches.

Terminology Theoretical framework Conceptual framework Theory rationale Theoretical perspective Theory base Theoretical lens Orienting lens No theory Foundational theory Paradigm Grounded theory Critical reflexive theory Quantitative Terms Qualitative Terms

Research Methods Theoretical framework Conceptual framework Theory rationale Theoretical perspective Theory base Quantitative Research Qualitative Research Surveys Quasi- experiments Experiments Correlational studies Theoretical lens Orienting lens No theory Foundational theory Paradigm Grounded theory Critical reflexive theory Narrative studies Case studies Ethnography Phenomenology

Sage Research Methods Online

There should always be a citation to help you track down the theory used. Strategy 10: Using Citations

Reference Citation

Thanks