Reaction Paper 1

Theory

What is Theory?
Theory is a supposition or a system of ideas intended to explain something, especially one based on general principles independent of the thing to be explained, for example, Darwin's theory of evolution. - Britannica 2000 Dictionary

What is theory? When and where did we meet? Is it important in my life? Will my life be understood better with theory? How important is it in my graduate study? If I remember, the first time I met it was when I was in grade school, maybe in my science or GMRC class. Our first encounter was with the topic How the World Began. So, I was able to shake hand with it. It oriented me about the Theory of Creation which cited the book of Genesis in the Bible. It briefed me with Charles Darwins Theory of Evolution which explains that human race evolved from the apes. It even discussed the Big Bang Theory which states that the world was created from an explosion somewhere else in the outer space. Then, I met it again in science class, particularly in biology, chemistry and physics. I appreciated it in my biology class but never in chemistry and physics because I could not absorbed the mathematical formula so it was burden for me. I ate the formula without chewing. So, it was not absorbed by my system. What is Theory? It was still a stranger to me because I never met it at home. I was not able to make use of it in my daily household chores. I never mentioned it in my daily conversation at home, only during review for my examinations. It never appeared in my dreams. It never told me that this is the right thing to do, the right time to do something else, the right place to make things out. It was not even mentioned by my parents during mealtime or family bonding. The only thing I knew about it was that it is an organized set of concepts or explanations. So I went on my life, in high school, it was mentioned even in my Filipino class. In college, the more I encountered it especially in my math subjects. As usual, I never appreciated it because for me it was a burden, a very complicated one, difficult to understand, made my life miserable for a while.

Juvy G. Mojares 2003-96860

CED 227 (Administrative Theory)

2nd Semester 2011-2012 Dr. Rowena DT. Baconguis

Reaction Paper 1

Theory

Then, again, in college we came across each other especially in my undergraduate thesis, wherein I had to present theoretical and conceptual framework. Hay! I dont want to remember those days. Truly, up to that time, I never appreciated its presence. Now, with my post graduate study, which aims to create an independent scholar, or a scholar who independently produces original research (Council of Graduate Schools, 2005 as cited by Gardner, 2008), it seems I am in the Dark Age. Why? It is because I havent done a research grounded or built not just on theory but a good theory which has four properties namely: definition, domain, relationship, and prediction (Wacker, 2008). However, with the discussion of Sutton and Staw (1995) on parts of an article that are not theory, I am slowly enlightened. They mentioned that references, data, lists of variables, and diagrams are not theory. But Weick (1995) claimed that these five parts that are not theory are considered theorizing. This means I have to be careful when using them, that there must be the LOGIC that explains them. So, now what is a theory? 1George Homans had no doubt about what theory was and what kind of thing was not a theory but something else. As he put: The explanation of a phenomenon is the theory of the phenomenon. A theory is nothingit is not a theoryunless it is an explanation. One may define properties and categories, and one still has no theory. One may state that there are relations between the properties, and one still has no theory. One may state that a change in one property will produce a definite change in another property, and one still has no theory. Not until one has properties, and propositions stating the relations between them, and the propositions form a deductive systemnot until one has all three does one have a theory (cited by Abend, 2008).
1

George Homans- ASA president who delivered his presidential address

Juvy G. Mojares 2003-96860

CED 227 (Administrative Theory)

2nd Semester 2011-2012 Dr. Rowena DT. Baconguis

Reaction Paper 1

Theory

Abend (2008) enumerated seven definitions of theory as 1) a general proposition, or logically-connected system of general propositions, which establishes a relationship between two or more variables; 2) is an explanation of a particular social phenomenon; 3) is an original interpretation, reading, or way of making sense of a certain slice of the empirical world; 4) is used to refer to the study of and the students of the writings of authors such as Marx, Weber, Durkheim, Simmel, Parsons, Habermas, or Bourdieu, which is described as interpretations, analyses, critiques, hermeneutical reconstructions, or exegeses; 5) an overall perspective from which one sees and interprets the world; 6) can be used to refer to a normative, and indeed political, account a far cry from other senses of it; 7) refer to discussions about the ways in which reality is socially constructed; the scientific status of sociology (value freedom, the idea of a social law, the relations between explanation and prediction, explanation and understanding, reasons and causes, and the like); or the relativity of morality. Still, many in the academe describe theory in terms of relationships between independent and dependent variables (Colquitt & Phelan, 2007). Campbell (1990) defined theory as a collection of assertions, both verbal and symbolic, that identifies what variables are important and for what reasons, specifies how they are interrelated and why, and identifies the conditions under which they should be related or not related. But, there appears to be an agreement among theory-building specialists (e.g. Dubin, 1978; Wacker, 1998; Whetten, 1989) that theory has four basic components: constructs, relationships, domain limitations, and predictions. On the other hand, DiMaggio (1995) defined theory as an account of a social process, with emphasis on empirical tests of the plausibility of the narrative as well as careful attention to the scope conditions of the account. He also provided three views of what theory should be: theory as covering laws, as enlightenment, as narrative. There is a long list of potential criteria for good theory (Gregor, 2006 p. 25). Wacker (1998) explained that a good theory has the virtues of uniqueness, parsimony, conservatism, generalizabiltiy, fecundity, internal consistency, empirical riskiness, and abstraction. Wacker (2008) mentioned that the specific requirements for theory development which are conservatism, uniqueness, internal consistency and generalizability are also the fundamental property of a good theory. He continued that
Juvy G. Mojares 2003-96860 CED 227 (Administrative Theory) 2nd Semester 2011-2012 Dr. Rowena DT. Baconguis

Reaction Paper 1

Theory

the most fundamental property of good theory is conservatism. There is no theory that is entirely new since there are always some related research studies that must be addressed. Uniqueness is achieved through clearly and formally defined theories which lead to high refutability. In addition, Coppedge (2002), set criteria for good theory: generality, integration and thickness. On the other hand, DiMaggio (1995) explained that a good theory is so difficult to produce routinely in part because goodness is multidimensional. He continued that the best theory often combines approaches to theorizing and the act of combination requires compromise between competing and mutually incompatible values. So, although there is no general consensus among theory-building experts concerning the relative significance of each criterion, there is harmony on what the criteria or virtues of good theory are (Wacker, 1998). While these are highly significant for theory-building there are always trade-offs among virtues, which demands value judgments from the scholar (Wacker, 1998 p. 367). However, Wacker (1998) recognizes that a good theory may not be a true theory. ORaghallaigh, et al. (2010) concur but add that no theory can be true but it can at least be effective. Effective theory requires that our community focuses more of its collective attention on the craft of building theory as well as sharpens its awareness of the factors that impact the effectiveness of the resulting theories. Theories are not simply built but must be carefully and methodically designed and subsequently evaluated to ensure fitness for purpose.
Conclusion

Theory or theorizing, both matter. We meet again! This time, I appreciate it so much not just because of its significance in the field of study, but because it widens my horizon about life. Now, it is not just an organized set of concepts, or explanations of human experience but it is about understanding life, like literature. As March & Smith (1995) said: We need to understand the how of theory-building as well as the what of theory-building. We need to understand which features of a
Juvy G. Mojares 2003-96860 CED 227 (Administrative Theory) 2nd Semester 2011-2012 Dr. Rowena DT. Baconguis

Reaction Paper 1

Theory

theory make it a success or failure as well as why and how the theory works for a given audience. In other words we need not just to build and evaluate but also to theorize and then justify theories about those artefacts.
References: Abend, G. 2008. The Meaning of Theory. Sociological Theory. 26 (2) 173-199. Campbell, J.P. 1990. The Role of Theory in Industrial and Organizational Psychology. Handbook of Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 1, 39-73. Colquitt, Jason A. & Cindy P. Zapata-Phelan. 2007. Trends in Theory Building and Theory Testing: A Five-Decade Study of the Academy of Management Journal. Academy of Management Journal. Vol. 50, No. 6, 1281-1303. Coppedge, Michael. 2002. Theory Building and Hypothesis Testing: Large-vs. Small-N Research on Democratization. A Paper Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, Illinois. DiMaggio, Paul J. 1995. Comments on :What Theory is Not ASQ Forum. Cornell University. Dubin, R. 1978. Theory-Building. Free Press New York. Gardner, Susan K. 2008. Whats Too Much and Whats Too Little?: The Process of Becoming an Independent Researcher in Doctoral Education. Journal of Higher Education, Vol. 79. No. 3, pp. 326-350.

Gregor, S. 2006. The Nature of Theory in Information Systems. Management Information Systems Quarterly, 30, 611-642. Gregor, S. 2009. Building Theory in the Sciences of the Artificial: ACM, 1-10. March, S. T. and G. F. Smith. 1995. Design and Natural Science Research on Information Technology. Decision Support Systems, 15, 251-266.
ORaghallaigh, Paidi, Sammon, David & Murphy, Ciaran. 2010. Map-Making Informing a Framework for Effective Theory-Building. A Completed Research Paper. JAIS Theory Developmemt Workshop Associated with ICIS. Sutton, Robert I. & Barry M. Staw. 1995. What Theory is Not. ASQ Forum. Cornell University. Wacker, John G. 1998. A Definition of Theory: Research Guidelines for Different TheoryBuilding Research Methods in Operations Management. Journal of Operations Management, 16, 361-385.

Juvy G. Mojares 2003-96860

CED 227 (Administrative Theory)

2nd Semester 2011-2012 Dr. Rowena DT. Baconguis

Reaction Paper 1

Theory

Wacker, John G. 2008. Tragic Conceptual Flaws of Theory-Building Empirical Research. Decision Line. Production/Operations Management. Wacker, John G. 2008. A Conceptual Understanding of Requirements for Theory-Building Research: Guidelines for Scientific Theory Building. Journal of Supply Chain Management, Vol. 44, No. 3. Weick, Karl E. 1995. What Theory Is Not, Theorizing Is. ASQ Forum. Cornell University. Whetten, D. A. 1989. What Constitutes a Theoretical Contribution? Academy of Management Review, 490-495

Juvy G. Mojares 2003-96860

CED 227 (Administrative Theory)

2nd Semester 2011-2012 Dr. Rowena DT. Baconguis