The Six Dimensions of Strong Theory

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Organization Science

Abstract. One of the most important features on which to judge the merit of any academic paper is the strength of its theory. Although commentary about what constitutes strong theory is widespread, there is no holistic account of the full range of existing perspectives. To address this oversight, I construct a typology composed of six dimensions of strong theory: importance, interestingness, actionability, generality, simplicity, and accuracy. This typology provides a lens to examine a vexing problem: the effort to increase the strength of a theory on one dimension will usually compromise its strength on others. Despite this reality, authors experience pressure in the review process to optimize theories on all six dimensions. I explain how the expectation to build theories that cannot possibly be built (what I call the fruitless search for unicorn theories) is driven by historical forces. The study of organizations emerged not from one source but from a half-dozen distinct traditions, including applied scientists who study time-sensitive problems, disciplinary scholars who identify universal laws of human behavior, and empiricists who prefer a tight link between concepts and measures. Review teams are often composed of referees who hail from different traditions and possess divergent views on theory. Even when each reviewer has concerns that are reasonable in isolation, authors often confront unrealistic expectations when reviewers' preferences are aggregated. To mitigate this problem, I recommend that authors, reviewers, and editors (one) prioritize fewer dimensions in any single theory and (two) emphasize distinct dimensions in different theories on the same topic.

One. Introduction

Two. A Typology of the Dimensions of Strong Theory

Three. Summary of the Six Dimensions of Strong Theory

Four. The Stage of a Theory's Consumption vs. the Structure of Its Logic

Five. Interdependence Among the Six Dimensions of Strong Theory

Five point one. Positive Covariation: When Enhancing One Dimension Bolsters Another

Five point two. Negative Covariation: The Specter of Trade-offs

Five point two point one. Trade-offs Among Importance, Interestingness,

Six point one. Traditions That Prioritize Importance

Six point two. Traditions That Prioritize Interestingness

Six point three. Traditions That Prioritize Actionability

Six point four. Traditions That Prioritize Generality

Six point five. Traditions That Prioritize Simplicity

Six point six. Traditions That Prioritize Accuracy

Seven. When Traditions Collide: The Review Process as a Collective Action Problem

Eight. Guidelines for a More Sustainable Model of Theorizing

Nine. Emphasizing Fewer Dimensions Within Each Individual Theory

Ten. Emphasizing Distinct Dimensions Across Different Theories

Eleven. The Link Between Theory and Empirics

Twelve. Conclusion

Overview

The article introduces a typology of six dimensions vital for assessing the strength of theories in organizational science: importance, interestingness, actionability, generality, simplicity, and accuracy. It discusses the inherent trade-offs between these dimensions and provides strategies for authors to navigate the complexities of theoretical contributions.

Key Points

1The six dimensions of strong theory are important for evaluating academic contributions
2Optimizing a theory across all dimensions often leads to unrealistic expectations
3Historical forces shape the pressures researchers face in theory development
4Focusing on fewer dimensions in specific theories can enhance clarity and effectiveness
5A holistic approach helps ensure diverse perspectives are considered in theory-making

Details

Authors: Andrew M. Carton
Category: Social Sciences

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