Theory, Role of

The word theory has many different meanings in different contexts. The concept is often used as a kind of covering label for many different features of research, from the very abstract to the relatively specific and concrete. The most abstract level of theory in social science can be called metatheory. George Ritzer has elucidated three possible subtypes of metatheory based on the goals the thinker wishes to attain: (1) deeper understanding, (2) prelude to further development, and (3) overarching perspective. Many writers think of theory as limited to less philosophical goals. Often, theory is defined as a set of interrelated hypotheses or propositions, but that definition is too positivistic for many interpretive, qualitative researchers, especially those who emphasize inductive approaches like grounded theory. Some even use the word theory to mean a specific hypothesis or very restricted set of tentative, abductive hypotheses.

Because of these varied usages, it is difficult to generalize about the role of theory in general or even in case study research. It is safe to say that there are a range of opinions concerning the role of theory in case study research. Some scholars in the arts and humanities wish to reject the notion of “theory”—in particular, postmodern theory—altogether, but the use of the term often sidesteps philosophy of social science approaches and involves more of a critique of a specific theory than of theory in general. Few contemporary writers accept such premodern “sciences” as astrology, alchemy, palmistry, and geomancy, yet a complete rejection of modern and postmodern theory would require one to make no such distinctions among premodern, modern, and postmodern approaches given that all would be rejected. One's theory is intimately connected to the kinds of research regarded as fruitful.