Towards middle-range theory building in development research: Comparative (historical) institutional analysis of institutional transplantation

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 221-235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nahee Kang
1994 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 323-359 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Gordon Redding

Earlier reviews of the state of comparative management theory are considered and summarized and lead to the following conclusions: the literature suffers from an excess of simple empirical reportage; theoretical development is weak in the middle ground and at higher levels; there is a bias away from ethnographic work; perspectives tend to be narrow and partial. Some progress is visible as a result of the unifying work of Hofstede but its contribution also entails new avenues of enquiry about the determinants and consequences of culture. Some middle-range theory building is now occurring in specific fields such as expatriation, leadership, and HRM techniques, but it remains tentative. Dilemmas stemming from altern ative frameworks of meaning and complex causation pose severe epistemological challenges and require new approaches to comparison. The economics-based positivist paradigm is seriously inadequate for such challenges, but dangerously imperialist. A new, more theoretically sophisticated, approach is advocated and outlined as a route for progress.


1984 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 255-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Mark Raab ◽  
Albert C. Goodyear

The concept of middle-range theory, arising over three decades ago in sociology, is reviewed. The concept was proposed as an approach to theorizing, urging consolidation of high-order theories with low-order empirical studies. The critical elements in such hierarchies are theories of a middle-range of abstraction. However, most current conceptions of “middle-range theory” in archaeology are far more narrowly conceived. Derived primarily from Binford's work, they continue the New Archaeology's attempt to develop a materialist epistemology for archaeology. In this view, principles of site formation processes are nearly synonymous with “middle-range theory.” The dangers to theory-building of this approach are outlined. Examples of middle-range theory that expand our capacity for explanation of cultural behavior are presented.


Author(s):  
Frederik Ponjaert

This chapter differentiates between grand theory and middle-range theory. The study of social phenomena raises the twofold question about the internal and external validity of a hypothesis. A piece of research is internally valid when it describes the true state of affairs within its own setting. The extent to which its findings can be applied to other settings will determine its relative external validity. External validity is a product of the theoretical aspirations of the research. When grand in scope, theoretical aspirations reject the importance of specific variations and attempt to describe the true state of affairs in all settings. Conversely, a theory-building exercise with a mid-range scope is bound by a set of conditional statements. Whereas middle-range theory-building is rooted in generalizable empirical propositions, grand theory-building is based on internally consistent ontologies. On the one hand, grand theory favours highly abstract theorizing, which is fairly distinct from concrete empirical concerns. On the other hand, middle-range theories reflect more sociologically embedded theorizing, which strives to integrate theory and empirical variations over time and space.


2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gordon B. Abner ◽  
Sun Young Kim ◽  
James L. Perry

Theory building within public administration has been slow and uneven, due in part to the field’s search for grand theories and its failure to systematize knowledge. Middle range theory may be a particularly useful theory-building strategy for public administration scholarship due to its emphasis on generating testable hypotheses, organizing knowledge about particular phenomena, and bridging gaps between empirical facts and theory. Its utility for the development of public human resource management theory is illustrated based on examples from performance-related pay and representative bureaucracy research. We present a series of theoretical statements about performance-related pay and representative bureaucracy, and we identify the extent to which these statements are supported by empirical evidence. The examples both illustrate the utility of the theory-building strategy and identify theoretical statements that are widely confirmed and others that need additional testing.


2021 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 211-216
Author(s):  
Howard K. Butcher

The author in this article provides a review of Peterson and Bredow’s 5th edition of Middle Range Theories: Application to Nursing Research and Practice. The author also shared some concerns and thoughts about the current status of nursing theory and middle-range theory.


1997 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. viii ◽  
Author(s):  
Peggy L. Chinn

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Satu Elo ◽  
Maria Kääriäinen ◽  
Arja Isola ◽  
Helvi Kyngäs

The aim is to describe the development of a middle-range theory by using an inductive-deductive approach. A theory of well-being supporting physical environment of home-dwelling elderly is used as an example. The inductive-deductive theory development process is described through four different phases: (1) the creations of concepts were described inductively through concept synthesis, (2) relationships between the concepts were examined to set up a hypothetical model, (3) hypotheses were set up to verify the concepts and to test hypothetical models, and (4) the verification and presentation of the theory.


2021 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 378-391
Author(s):  
Sumayya A. Attaallah ◽  
Rosalind M. Peters ◽  
Ramona Benkert ◽  
Hossein Yarandi ◽  
Sandra Oliver-McNeil ◽  
...  

A middle-range theory of heart failure self-care, derived from the self-care deficit theory of nursing, was tested among 175 Arab American older adults with heart failure. The middle-range theory achieved good statistical fit, but not all hypothesized relationships were supported. Specifically, conceptualizing basic conditioning factors as a single latent variable was not supported. However, individual factors of depression, social support, and time living with heart failure had a direct effect on both self-care agency and quality of life. Understanding predictors and outcomes of self-care within a theoretical framework is essential in caring for patients with heart failure.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheenam Jain ◽  
Malin Sundström

Purpose Today, customers’ perceived value does not only depend on the products, but also on the services provided by a firm. In e-commerce, it is important to shift the focus beyond the product and discuss the value of personalized services in the context of e-commerce fulfillment. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is twofold: to develop a conceptual framework proposing satisfaction through personalized services as a middle-range theory; and to suggest foundational premises supporting the theoretical framework, which in turn shape middle-range theory within the context of apparel e-commerce fulfillment. Design/methodology/approach In this theory-driven paper, the authors apply the scientific circle of enquiry, as it demonstrates the role of theorizing with the help of middle-range theory and empirical evidence and as such provides a methodological scaffolding that connects theory formulation and verification. The authors synthesize literature related to customer perceived value (CPV) and satisfaction, followed by abduction focusing on understanding the empirical domain as it occurred in practice from company cases. The presented case studies are based on semi-structured interviews with three Swedish online retailers within the apparel industry. The theory-driven analysis results in suggestions of foundational premises. Findings Based on the theoretical foundations and empirical generalizations, three propositions are suggested. The premises regarding satisfaction through personalized service applied in the domain of apparel e-commerce fulfillment are: to ensure customer satisfaction requires a value co-creation perspective using data during the pre-purchase phase; to ensure customer satisfaction and retention require added-value perspective during the post-purchase phase of the shopping journey; and to ensure satisfaction and convenience require an added-value perspective at the last mile. Practical implications The apparel firms lose a substantial amount of revenue because of poor online customer satisfaction, leading to e-commerce not reaching its full potential. To enhance customer value, online retailers need to find a resort in advanced technologies and analytics to address customer satisfaction, and it is suggested that retailers shift their focus beyond the products and find ways to improve personalized service offerings to gain market advantage, improve fulfillment, drive sales and increase CPV. Originality/value To consider personalized services as a source for improving e-commerce fulfillment and CPV, the main contribution of this study is conceptual as it presents a theoretical model developed from general theory, middle-range theory and verified with empirical claims.


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