March 2010, Vol. 41, Issue 2
Research Commentary: Reflections of an Accidental Theorist
Alan H. Shoenfeld
This
“Research Commentary” explores the roles of theoretical and empirical work in
the development of productive lines of research by elaborating on three main
points. First, the dialectic between theory and empirical practice is highly
productive for both: Theory is enriched by close attention to data, and one’s
understanding of empirical issues is deepened when one attends closely to
theory. Second, an effective mechanism for making systematic progress is to
focus on cases at the edge of one’s (and the field’s) collective theoretical
understanding. Third, close observations of empirical phenomena often raise
issues that have theoretical import and that give rise to new lines of work.
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