MGT-602 Research Methodology

Moderator: Sana Ullah Khan

GDB No.1

Name: Aqeel Ahmad

Registration # : FA15RPM174

Question: Discuss, How Scholars Build and Verify Theory in Research Context? Justify your
argument with evidence.
Answer: The building of theory occurs in two major stages the descriptive stage and the
normative stage. Within each of these stages, theory builders proceed through three steps. The
theory building process iterates through these three steps again and again
The building of theory occurs in two major stages; the descriptive stage and the normative
stage.

Descriptive Stage: It constitutes of the following three stages:

1. Observation: Scholars observe phenomena and carefully describe and measure what
they see. Careful observation, documentation and measurement of the phenomena in
words and numbers is important.
2. Classification (Categorization / Frameworks): With the phenomena observed and
described, the scholars in the second stage then classify the phenomena into categories.
In the descriptive stage of theory building, the classification schemes that scholars
propose typically are defined by the attributes of the phenomena.
3. Defining Relationship (Statement of Association / Building Models): In the third step,
researchers explore the association between the category-defining attributes and the
outcomes observed. The scholars recognize and make explicit what differences in
attributes, and differences in the magnitude of those attributes, correlate most strongly
with the patterns in the outcomes of interest. Techniques such as regression analysis
typically are useful in defining these correlations. Often we refer to the output of
studies at this step as models.
Now there are two processes / methods of research; Deductive & Inductive. If the steps
followed as described above, as from 1 to 3 (i.e. first observation is made, then classification
and then association), its called inductive strategy and if from 3 to 1, its called the deductive
method.

Normative Stage: Normative theory, like its descriptive predecessor, still needs to be
improved and researchers do this by following the same steps that were used in the
descriptive stage. After careful field based research, the following processes are the
components of normative stage:
1. Observer describes and measures the phenomena.
2. Categorization of the circumstances in which we might find ourselves.
3. Statement of Causality.

MGT-602 Research Methodology

Moderator: Sana Ullah Khan

The similar concept of deductive and inductive is applied in this case too.
A good theory has three features, as Validity (Its based on facts, the inputs/data is researched
carefully), Generalization (It is generic, predicts future events too) and Replication (It can be
repeated with similar findings).

Verification of Theory: Scholars use four approaches to verify the theory, as:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Selecting phenomena
Finding critical commonalities
Abstracting (theorizing)
Hypothesis testing

Justification: The theory that is driven by a refined and careful research is directly relevant to
practice and beneficial to the field. However, what constitutes a theoretical contribution in a
field of study can be another source of argument among scholars. A theory-practice
relationship is a mainly communication relationship. As a solution to a real or perceived gap,
that needs a mode of inquiry to converts the information provided by both scholars and
practitioners into actions to be able to address problems in a given field. Even in contextual,
theoretical methodological circumstances, using a range of methods to test a theory informs
practice and generates valued and substantive knowledge. Finally, the theory generates
research and research generates and refines theory which helps in solving the real world
problems.