1. Theory & Theorizing

2. Why do we need theory?

3. Why do we need theory?
We need to make sense and order data – so that we uncover something we don’t already know
How do we know anything? Mind? Senses/experience/observation?
Reason/thought - empiricism debate and its development into
Dialogue between thought and experience

4. Perception & Conception
“Perception without conception is blind; conception without perception is empty” (Kant)

5. Developing a Conceptualization and Using Theory
What have we learnt? What do we now know/understand that we did not before? Beyond “mere description”

6. What is theory What is not theory? What is theorization?

7. What Theory is Not (Sutton & Staw 1995)
References
Data
“data don’t generate theory - only researchers do that” (Mintzberg 1979, 584)
Lists of variables/constructs
Diagrams
Hypotheses or predictions

8. What is Theory?
“A theory tries to make sense of the observable world by ordering the relationships among elements that constitute the theorist’s focus of attention” (Dubin 1976, p.26)
It is a network of relationships and patterns; temporal processes
the “why”, “how”, “when”, and perhaps “what”
a ‘surprise machine’
an account of a social process

9. Some questions to ask on the way to theory development
How? What are the processes?
Why?
What are the strategies people use in ....?
Dimensionality?
Tensions?
When? Conditions under which happens?
How can I resolve the contradictions I observe?

10. The Process of Theorizing (Weick 1995)
Abstracting Generalizing Relating Selecting Explaining Synthesizing Idealizing

11. Sidney Levy on Theorizing
Think about the implications of your work
Brood
Infer
Deduce
Speculate
Project
Tell each other
While thinking, draw from your own experience (introspect) as well as the literature and your data

12. Theory - Data spiral Thinking (disciplined imagination, logic)
and Observing (data)