1. 長榮大學經營管理所博士班
101學年度第一學期
課程名稱:高等管理理論專題研討
探討主題:What Theory is Not: Robert I.Sutton , Barry M.Staw
參考著作:
1.Comments on “What Theory is Not”:Paul J.DiMaggio
2.The Case For Qualitative Research :Gareth Morgan , Linda Smircich
指導教授:李元德教授
博一生: 陳錦玉

2. I summarized five questions from the ABSTRACT:
Ask1: Does papers that contain some theory rather than no
theory?
Ask2: What constitutes strong versus weak theory in the
social sciences
Ask3: Are References, Data, Variables, Diagrams, and
Hypotheses not theory?
Ask4: Can you explain how each of these five elements can be
confused with theory and how to avoid such confusion?
Ask5: What’s the author argue that journals ought to be ?

3. Foucs concept about the issue
Authors routinely use references, data, variables, diagrams,
and hypotheses in lieu of good theory. Journals should be
more receptive to papers that the part than all of a theory
and use illustrative than definitive data.
There is lack of agreement whether a model and a theory
can be distinguished, whether a typology is a theory, and
the value of “interestingness” on theory, and whether
falsifiability is a pre-requisite. Scholars are forced to make
tradeoffs between generality, simplicity, and accuracy.

4. PARTS OF AN ARTICLE THAT ARE NOT THEORY
1.References Are Not Theory
References to theory developed in prior work help set the stage
for new conceptual arguments.
Authors need to acknowledge the stream of logic on which they
are drawing and to which they are contributing.
以前理論的發展主要在幫助工作建立新的概念爭論。作者必須承認
邏輯上的流派，他們正在規劃它們要貢獻什麼。

5. 2.Data Are Not Theory
Much of organization theory is based on data.
Empirical evidence plays an important role in confirming, revising, or
discrediting existing theory and in guiding the development of new
theory.
 許多組織理論為基礎的數據。實證證據中起著重要的作用，在確認，
修改，或抹黑現有的理論和指導發展的新的理論。

6. 3.Lists of Variables or Constructs Are Not Theory
Organizations present a “numerical index “to 206 variables discussed in
the classic book. This list of variables and the definitions that March
and Simon present of these variables are important parts of their theory
but do not alone constitute theory .A theory must also explain why
variables or constructs come about or why they are connected.
 組織對於206種討論變量的經典書中提出了“數字索引”。March和
Simon提出這些變量表和定義的變異,是他們的理論中重要的部分.但是
卻無法單獨構成理論.理論還必須解釋為什麼變量或結構如何形成?或
是他們為什麼相關連?

7. 4.Diagrams Are Not Theory
 Diagrams or figures can be a valuable part of a research paper but
also, by themselves ,rarely constitute theory.
 More helpful are figures that show causal relationships in a logical
ordering ,so that readers can see a chain of causation or how a third
variable intervenes in or moderates a relationship.
 圖表或數字可以是一個有價值的研究論文的一部分，而且也是他自己
的，卻很少構成理論。
 更多有用的是那些數字在邏輯順序上所顯示的因果關係，使讀者可以
看到一個因果鏈或第三個變量如何干預或適度溫和的關係。

8. 5.Hypotheses(or Predictions)Are Not Theory
 Hypotheses can be an important part of a well-crafted conceptual
argument. They serve as crucial bridges between theory and data,
making explicit how the variables and relationships that follow from a
logical argument will be operationalized.
 假設是一個精心設計的概念參數的重要組成部分。他們作為理論和數
據之間的重要橋樑，明確如何從邏輯參數的變量和關係，遵循可操作
性。

9.  Papers with strong theory thus often start with one or two conceptual
statements and build a logically detailed case ; they have both
simplicity and interconnectedness.
 具有很強理論的論文往往開始於和一個或兩個概念的陳述，並建立一
個邏輯的詳細情況;他們都具有簡單性和相互關聯性。

10. Identifying Strong Theory
 Though we have noted that it is easier to identify features of
manuscripts that are not theory than it is to specify exactly what good
theory is , our own prejudices about the matter are already evident.
 Theory answers why. It‘s about connections among phenomenon. It
delves into underlying processes. It is laced with t set of convincing
and logically interconnected arguments. Weick says a good theory
explains, predicts, and delights.
 識別論文是不是理論的特徵，比精確地指出什麼是好的理論更容易，
我們自己對這議題的偏見已經顯現出來。
 韋克說:一個好的理論是能夠解釋、預測，和使人歡喜。

11. Some Recommendations
 Our recommendation is to rebalance the selection
process between theory and method.
 Therefore, if a theory is particularly interesting, the
standards used to evaluate how well it is tested or
grounded need to be relaxed,not strengthened. We
need to recognize that major contributions can be
made when data are more illustrative than definitive.
 在理論和方法之間的平衡選擇過程。如果一個理論
特別有趣，該標準用於評估它多好測試,或可以輕鬆
地學會基礎需要，而不加強。我們需要認識到，當
數據(資料)更多明確的說明,可以作出重大貢獻.

12. Some Recommendations
The author's recommendation is to rebalance the selection process
between theory and method. Journals should publish papers that are
stronger in theory than method. It's sort of been happening for
qualitative research but not quantitative research. Seldom are
ethnographic descriptions published when they are not also a source of
new concepts or ideas. In qualitative studies often theory is
emphasized too much.
筆者建議平衡理論和方法之間的選擇過程。期刊發表理論強的論文。定
性研究和定量研究的目的在於形成理論,只是在定性研究往往過多強調理
論。

13. Conclusion
 We explored several structural reasons for the current imbalance
between theory and method in organizational research, nothing how
the problem may stem from both the way we run journals as well as
the nature and training of researchers who make up our field.
 We argue for greater theoretical emphasis in quantitative research,
along with more appreciation of the empiricism of qualitative
endeavors.
 探討組織研究的理論和方法，使我們的領域可能源於目前的不平衡之
間的結構性原因。
 在定量研究的理論強調，隨著更多的經驗主義的定性努力的升值。

14. Comments on “What Theory is Not”:Paul J.DiMaggio
I appriciate these three focus concept :
1.There is More Than One Kind of Good Theory
2.Good Theory Splits the Difference
3.Theory Construction is Social Construction,Often after
the Fact

15. The Case For Qualitative Research
:Gareth Morgan ,Linda Smircich
I am interested Table 1 & Table 2 in this paper :
The assumptions about ontology and human nature sketched out in
Table 2 amplify the brief descriptions provided in Table 1.
下頁將簡單歸納表格2的重點事項

16. Table 2 :Assumptions About Ontology and Human Nature
(1)Core Ontological Assumptions :
Reality as a Projection of Human Imagination
Reality as a social construction
Reality as Symbolic Discourse
(2)Assumptions About Human Nature :
Humans as Transcendental Belings
Humans Create Their Realities
Humans Social Actors
(3)Some Examples Of Research:
Phenomenology
Ethnomethodology
Social Action Theory

17. (4)Objective Approaches
Reality as a Contextual Field of Information
Reality as a Concrete Process
Reality as a Concrete Structure
Humans as Information Processors
Humans as Adaptive Agents
Humans as Responding Mechanisms
Cybemetics
Open Systems Theory
Behaviorism Social Learning Theory

18. THE NED
透過這三篇英文論文的閱讀,我對於如何著手
一篇具備好的典範理論的社會科學研究,有較
深刻而清楚的理解!謝謝!
Please offer opinions
Thank you
2013/1/15