TESTING MANAGEMENT THEORIES: CRITICAL REALIST PHILOSOPHY AND RESEARCH METHODS

被引:131
作者
Miller, Kent D. [1 ]
Tsang, Eric W. K. [2 ]
机构
[1] Michigan State Univ, Eli Broad Grad Sch Management, E Lansing, MI 48824 USA
[2] Univ Texas Dallas, Sch Management, Richardson, TX 75083 USA
关键词
critical realism; mechanisms; philosophy of science; research methods; theory testing; STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT; OWNERSHIP STRUCTURE; ORGANIZATIONAL RESEARCH; CORPORATE-STRATEGY; ECONOMICS; SCIENCE; ENVIRONMENT; ASSUMPTIONS; DECISION; CONSTRUCTIVISM;
D O I
10.1002/smj.868
中图分类号
F [经济];
学科分类号
02 ;
摘要
This study identifies the practical and philosophical difficulties associated with testing strategic management and organization theories. Working from a critical realist perspective, we affirm the importance of falsification and verification efforts for progress in theory development. We advocate a four-step approach for advancing theory testing that prioritizes identifying and testing for the presence and effects of hypothesized causal mechanisms, rather than solely focusing on correlational methods to jointly test the set of effects composing a theoretical system. Going beyond prior critical realist writings, we provide practical guidance for deploying established research methods to test management theories. Copyright (C) 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
引用
收藏
页码:139 / 158
页数:20
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