Chapter 3: Weighing the Words

1. Chapter 3: Weighing the Words

2. Why this theory? • After identifying our theoretical approach, we move to step two, selecting a theory to analyze our data/text • Matching our data/text with a good theory increases the likelihood of finding significant results in our study. • Therefore, we need to understand why a theory is a good theory.

3. What makes an Objective Theory Good? • Scientific standard 1: Explanation of Data. • Scientific standard 2: Prediction of Future events. • Scientific standard 3: Relative Simplicity. • Scientific standard 4: Testable Hypothesis. • Scientific standard 5: Practical Utility. • Scientific standard 6: Quantitative Research If these standards are met generally, then the theory is deemed a good theory.

4. What makes a Good Interpretive theory? • Interpretive standard 1: New understanding of people. • Interpretive standard 2: Clarification of Values. • Interpretive standard 3: Aesthetic Appeal. • Interpretive standard 4: A Community of Agreement. • Interpretive standard 5: Reform of Society. • Interpretive standard 6; Qualitative Research

5. Contested Turf & Common Ground among Theorists • The criteria we’ve reviewed reflect the different worldviews we learned about in chapter 2. • Sensing and Intuition (Myers-Briggs) can demonstrate the differences between the two approaches. • All theories abide by certain criteria, this is the common ground.

6. Scientific Theory Explanation of Data Prediction of Future Relative Simplicity Testable Hypothesis Practical Utility Quantitative Research Interpretive Theory Understanding of People Clarification of Values Aesthetic Appeal Community of Agreement Reform of Society Qualitative Research Balancing the Scale: Similar Weights and Measures

7. Summary • Criteria to determine what makes a theory a good theory were developed to help researchers. • Testing theory is part of the process of determining whether or not a theory is a good theory. • Theory building results from this process.