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Top down deduction theorists start with generalizations and determine if these generalizations
apply to specific instances, whereas Bottom up Induction theorists start with observations of
specific instances and seek to establish generalizations about the phenomenon under
investigation.
Steps of deduction approach:
1) Discovery of problem in literature
2) Re-examination of assumptions in
these literature
3) Alternative explanation through
hypothesis
4) Testing hypothesis through collecting
and analyzing data
These approaches though are eminent and popular methods of theorizing however are not free of
shortcomings. Theories arising from deduction approach are sometimes sterile, debatable, and
unable to widely be tested and theories arising out of induction approach may lack scope,
abstraction, and generalizability. A combination of these two approaches may produce more
robust theories while taking care of aforementioned shortcomings and the paper has presented
inductive top-down model as one of such alternate combination. This approach begins with data
(from literature) representing collective knowledge of the erstwhile intellectual community, from
which then theory is built.
Induction Top-Down theorizing
Underlying framework of induction top down theorizing is Coherence theory that bifurcates the
concept in perception and explanation. Coherence is operationalized in terms of extent to which
1
explanations account for more evidence, are simpler, are themselves explained, and are superior
to alternative explanations. Coherence theory of Perception suggests theorists attention
determines limited and temporary coherence field and concludes with sensory representation of
the environment.
Explanation part of theory describes the process how perception becomes represented in beliefs
as coherent mental representation. These explanations are nodes in network of knowledge data
and are interconnected via links to decision alternatives and to other explanations which forms
conceptual representation. According to authors of article conceptual representation refers to
general abstract statements of relationships between constructsincorporating explanations of
how and why, boundary conditions of values, and assumptions of time and spacethat
allow for a more coherent resolution of the theorists sensory representation. Following figure
explains the proposed theorizing model.
Sensory representations through various data
are formed as data is taken by the theorists and
knowledge is not given by data to theorist. And
hence
theorists
habits,
sense
organs,
use it partially. Formation of such subset of data depends upon where the theorist attention is
focused. Also this focus is due to either theorists prior knowledge or scholarly context.
Prior Knowledge
Literature
The literature itself can focus
Theorists
a theorists attention by
notions
preconceived
like
research
Scholarly Context
even
strategy,
constructs
and
about
of contexts in
contexts
influence
Theorists prior knowledge and scholarly context limits while literature (the data) helps in
formation of sensory representation of phenomenon.
The next step to theorizing is constant comparison of sensory representation and conceptual
representation. According to Coherence theory theorists develop a sensory representation of
assorted data and then conceptual representation is applied to this sensory representation of the
data to test the extent to which it rectifies or adds to the current state of knowledge in a way.
And then theorists constantly keep doing this comparison in order to refine this initial
conceptualization. According to authors Constant Comparison refers to the process by which
the theorist checks and tests the emerging conceptualization with sensory representations to
determine the extent to which the conceptual representation offers a coherent explanation of the
data.
There are two ways described in the article to compare; thought experiment and
metaphorical reasoning. Thought experiments are abstract hypothetical scenarios that act like
imaginary experiments. Metaphorical reasoning first provides theorist vocabulary to express and
then offers multiple ways to interpret them while revealing analogous information. According to
coherent theory this process of comparison and theorizing continues till sensory and conceptual
representations of theorist cohere. A theory emerging out of this process should have following
characteristics:
The description above is an attempt to simplify the article for easier understanding. This is
accomplished either by taking some quotations from article as it is or by paraphrasing. The
intention is not to reproduce or alter but to reduce it to its bare bones.