Trends in theory building and theory testing:: A five-decade study of the Academy of Management Journal

• 成果类型: Review
• 署名作者: Colquitt, Jason A.; Zapata-Phelan, Cindy P.
• 署名单位: State University System of Florida; University of Florida
• 刊物名称: ACADEMY OF MANAGEMENT JOURNAL
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0001-4273
• DOI: 10.5465/AMJ.2007.28165855
• 发表日期: 2007
• 页码: 1281-1303
• 关键词: ORGANIZATIONAL SCIENCE; job-satisfaction; UNFOLDING MODEL; Agency theory; motivation; work; antecedents; replication; Isomorphism; COOPERATION

摘要

We introduce a taxonomy that reflects the theoretical contribution of empirical articles along two dimensions: theory building and theory testing. We used that taxonomy to track trends in the theoretical contributions offered by articles over the past five decades. Results based on data from a sample of 74 issues of the Academy of Management Journal reveal upward trends in theory building and testing over time. In addition, the levels of theory building and testing within articles are significant predictors of citation rates. In particular, articles rated moderate to high on both dimensions enjoyed the highest levels of citations.