Ten Strategies for Locating Theories Locating Theories Video: 11 min. 15 sec

Ten Strategies for Locating Theories

Locating Theories

Video: 11 min. 15 sec.

Strategy 1:In-Depth Knowledge of the Topic

Lit review

Strategy 2: Search Terms

Theory in the Title and/or Abstract

Sample Titles

Theoretical lens

Terminology When Discusssing Theories

Theoretical framework

Conceptual framework

Orienting lens

No theory

Theory rationale

Foundational theory

Paradigm

Theory???

Grounded theory

Theoretical perspective

Theory base

Critical reflexive theory

Theoretical lens

Strategy 3:Truncating theor*

Theoretical framework

Conceptual framework

Orienting lens

No theory

Theory rationale

Foundational theory

Paradigm

Theories???

Grounded theory

Theoretical perspective

Theory base

Critical reflexive theory

Truncation

Theoretical lens

Strategy 4: Locating Synonyms and Alternative Terms

Theoretical framework

Conceptual framework

Orienting lens

No theory

Theory rationale

Foundational theory

Paradigm

Theories???

Grounded theory

Theoretical perspective

Theory base

Critical reflexive theory

Using the Boolean OR

theor* OR paradigm* OR “orienting lens”

theor* OR paradigm* OR “orienting lens”

theor* OR paradigm* OR “orienting lens”

theor* OR paradigm* OR “orienting lens”

theor* OR paradigm* OR “orienting lens”

Using the Boolean OR

theor* OR paradigm* OR “orienting lens”

theor* OR paradigm* OR “orienting lens”

theor* OR paradigm* OR “orienting lens”

theor*

paradigm* OR “orienting lens” OR “conceptual framework”

Strategy 5:Boolean AND for Additional Concepts

theor* OR paradigm* OR “orienting lens”

Strategy 6: Search the Text of the Document

Strategy 6:Search the Text of the Document

All Fields + Text

Finding Theories in Dissertations

Finding Theories in Dissertations

Try theor -- Do not include the asterisk here.

Use the FIND Option

Searching for Specific Terms

Theories in E-Books

Theories in E-Books

Searching for Your Term Within E-Books

Keyword Matches

Strategy 7: Subject-Specific Databases

• Business, management, leadership, organizational behavior – ABI/Inform, Business Source Complete, Emerald

• Computers and technology – ACM, IEEE, ScienceDirect• Education – ERIC• Medicine – Medline• Nursing and allied health -- CINAHL• Psychology – PsycINFO• Speech language pathology – Linguistics and Language

Behavior

Other disciplines

Example: Problem Patrons

ERICERIC

CINAHLCINAHL

Discipline-Specific DatabasesDiscipline-Specific Databases

MedlineMedline

PsycINFOPsycINFO

ABI/InformABI/Inform

PsycINFO

Strategy 8:Other Types of Sources

Theories Discussed in Encyclopedia Articles

Transformational Leadership Theories

Social Theory Database

Strategy 9: Locating Theories Used in Qualitative and Quantitative Research

The use of a theory varies between qualitative and quantitative methods:

Quantitative methods: Theories are presented - then tested to explain, predict, or establish causal relations between variables.

Qualitative methods: Theories are presented to serve as a “lens” which then guides what is looked at and how questions are developed. Theories can also be generated as seen in grounded theory approaches.

Terminology

Theoretical framework

Conceptual framework

Theory rationale

Theoretical perspective

Theory base

Theoretical lens

Orienting lens

No theory

Foundational theory

Paradigm

Grounded theory

Critical reflexive theory

Quantitative Terms Qualitative Terms

Research Methods

Theoretical framework

Conceptual framework

Theory rationale

Theoretical perspective

Theory base

Quantitative Research Qualitative Research

Surveys

Quasi-experimentsExperiment

s

Correlational studies

Theoretical lens

Orienting lens

No theory

Foundational theory

Paradigm

Grounded theory

Critical reflexive theory

Narrative studies

Case studies

Ethnography

Phenomenology

Sage Research Methods Online

There should always be a citation to help you track down the theory used.Strategy 10:Using Citations

Reference Citation

Reference Citation

Thanks