Theory Building in Applied Disciplines

Download or read book Theory Building in Applied Disciplines written by Richard A. Swanson and published by Berrett-Koehler Publishers. This book was released on 2013-08-05 with total page 279 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A Comprehensive Method, Tools, and Techniques for Building Sound Theory Richard Swanson and Thomas Chermack present a complete five-step approach for developing sound theory in applied disciplines, from conceptualizing a theory to creating relevant assessment criteria, establishing a research agenda to test the theory’s validity, applying the theoretical concepts in the real world, and using that experience to further refine and improve the theory. The method is not restricted to any single discipline, nor is it limited by any research ideology. The authors provide a set of tools for each phase of the process, making this book accessible to a wide audience. And in addition to examples in each chapter, they offer two extended case examples of full theory building.