Meanings of Theory : Clarifying Theory through Typification
(2021) In Journal of Management Studies 58(2). p.487-516- Abstract
Developing and evaluating scientific knowledge and its value requires a clear – or at least not too unclear – understanding of what ‘theory’ means. We argue that common definitions of theory are too restrictive, as they do not acknowledge the existence of multiple kinds of scientific knowledge, but largely recognize only one kind as ‘theory’, namely explanatory knowledge. We elaborate a typology that broadens and clarifies the meaning of ‘theory’. Consisting of five basic theory types – explaining, comprehending, ordering, enacting and provoking theories – the typology offers a framework that enables researchers to develop and assess knowledge in more varied ways and for a broader set of purposes than is typically recognized, as well as... (More)
Developing and evaluating scientific knowledge and its value requires a clear – or at least not too unclear – understanding of what ‘theory’ means. We argue that common definitions of theory are too restrictive, as they do not acknowledge the existence of multiple kinds of scientific knowledge, but largely recognize only one kind as ‘theory’, namely explanatory knowledge. We elaborate a typology that broadens and clarifies the meaning of ‘theory’. Consisting of five basic theory types – explaining, comprehending, ordering, enacting and provoking theories – the typology offers a framework that enables researchers to develop and assess knowledge in more varied ways and for a broader set of purposes than is typically recognized, as well as providing a more level playing field within the academic community.
(Less)
- author
- Sandberg, Jörgen and Alvesson, Mats LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2021
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- scientific knowledge, theoretical contribution, theory, theory development
- in
- Journal of Management Studies
- volume
- 58
- issue
- 2
- pages
- 487 - 516
- publisher
- Wiley-Blackwell
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85086155086
- ISSN
- 0022-2380
- DOI
- 10.1111/joms.12587
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- a115c3bd-7b5e-4725-ac40-179e36abf676
- date added to LUP
- 2020-07-02 17:04:33
- date last changed
- 2022-04-18 23:15:20
@article{a115c3bd-7b5e-4725-ac40-179e36abf676,
abstract = {{<p>Developing and evaluating scientific knowledge and its value requires a clear – or at least not too unclear – understanding of what ‘theory’ means. We argue that common definitions of theory are too restrictive, as they do not acknowledge the existence of multiple kinds of scientific knowledge, but largely recognize only one kind as ‘theory’, namely explanatory knowledge. We elaborate a typology that broadens and clarifies the meaning of ‘theory’. Consisting of five basic theory types – explaining, comprehending, ordering, enacting and provoking theories – the typology offers a framework that enables researchers to develop and assess knowledge in more varied ways and for a broader set of purposes than is typically recognized, as well as providing a more level playing field within the academic community.</p>}},
author = {{Sandberg, Jörgen and Alvesson, Mats}},
issn = {{0022-2380}},
keywords = {{scientific knowledge; theoretical contribution; theory; theory development}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{2}},
pages = {{487--516}},
publisher = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
series = {{Journal of Management Studies}},
title = {{Meanings of Theory : Clarifying Theory through Typification}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/joms.12587}},
doi = {{10.1111/joms.12587}},
volume = {{58}},
year = {{2021}},
}