TESTING MANAGEMENT THEORIES: CRITICAL REALIST PHILOSOPHY AND RESEARCH METHODS

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Miller, Kent D.; Tsang, Eric W. K.
• 署名单位: Michigan State University; Michigan State University's Broad College of Business; University of Texas System; University of Texas Dallas
• 刊物名称: STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT JOURNAL
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0143-2095
• DOI: 10.1002/smj.868
• 发表日期: 2011
• 页码: 139-158
• 关键词: critical realism; mechanisms; philosophy of science; research methods; theory testing

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.