We define builders as articles that are relatively
high in theory building but relatively low in theory
testing. Builders include inductive studies that focus
on new constructs, relationships, or processes
For example, Butterfield, Trevino, and Ball (1996)
noted that, despite the vast literature on punishment,
scholars had neglected to examine what
managers actually thought and felt about punishing
their employees. Using a series of interviews, the
authors identified a number of concepts that
helped capture how managers viewed punishment.
Builders may also include hypothetico-deductive
studies that examine a relationship that has not
been the subject of prior theorizing or empirical
research. For example, Oldham (1975) conducted
the first study linking supervisor characteristics
(e.g., attractiveness, power, trustworthiness) to subordinate
acceptance of assigned goals. Because the
relationship had not been explored previously, he
grounded his predictions by extrapolating from
studies linking supervisor characteristics to subordinate
performance.