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

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

3. Strategy 2: Search Terms

4. Theory in the Title and/or Abstract

5. Sample Titles

6. 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

7. 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

8. Truncation

9. 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

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

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

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

13. Strategy 6: Search the Text of the Document

14. All Fields + Text

15. Finding Theories in Dissertations

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

18. Searching for Specific Terms

19. Theories in E-Books

21. Searching for Your Term Within E-Books

22. Keyword Matches

23. 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

24. Other disciplines

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

26. PsycINFO

27. Strategy 8: Other Types of Sources

28. Theories Discussed in Encyclopedia Articles

29. Transformational Leadership Theories

30. Social Theory Database

31. 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.

32. 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

33. 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

34. Sage Research Methods Online

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

36. Reference Citation

38. Thanks