Carefully-selected SAGE Journal articles expand upon chapter material, and accompanying exercises offer practice in applying the concepts.

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Article 1: Glaser, B. G. (2002). Conceptualization: On theory and theorizing using grounded theory.International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 1(2), 23-38.

Summary: Conceptualization is the core category of grounded theory.

Questions to Consider

1. A theory explains how and why variables are related, acting as a bridge between or among the variables. What is your research telling you?
2. Glaser discussed the different levels of conceptualization that researchers can possess. How comfortable are you with your level of conceptualization based on your literature review?
3. How does theory generation compare between quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods research?

Article 2: Lynham, S. A. (2002). Quantitative research and theory building: Dubin’s method. Advances in Developing Human Resources, 4(3), 242-276.

Summary: It is the purpose of this chapter to present the reader with both the form, that is, the shape, structure, and outward appearance, as well as the substance, or what might be considered as the essence, of a quantitative theory-building methodology.

Questions to Consider

1. Dubin’s first component (hypothetico-deductive approach) helps a quantitative researcher create an informed, conceptual framework of the theory. What are some of these initial components (units, laws of interaction, boundaries, system states) based on your literature review?
2. Dubin used the term “perpetual theory building” to indicate that one is never done with theory building. Has your theory changed throughout the research process?
3. Quantitative theory building links the independent and dependent variables. Create a visual theoretical model portraying the relationship between your variables 

Article 3: Rule, P., & John, V. M. (2015). A Necessary Dialogue: Theory in Case Study Research. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 14(4). https://doi.org/10.1177/1609406915611575

Summary: This article attempts to “re-imagine” the relations between theory and case study research. We begin by examining the nature and key features of theory and posit a set of relations among theory, research, and practice. The authors consider two existing approaches to linking case study and theory, an inductive, theory-building approach (theory for the case) and a deductive, theory-testing approach (theory from the case), and propose a bidirectional dialogic approach.

Questions to Consider

1. The authors describe three key aspects of theory. Define these aspects.
2. The authors discuss the Theory–Case relationship. Draw out the four Figures and summarize each relationship (Theory of the Case, Theory for the Case, Theory from the Case, Between Theory and Case).