THE INGREDIENTS OF A THEORY
In the process of evolving a theory efforts may proceed through various levels or
stages. These levels are identified differently by various writers (Homans 1950, Jacox 1974, Riehl & Roy 1974) depending on their particular approach to theory construction. Generally speaking, however, there are four stages in theory con-
struction.
1 Describing the phenomena related to the particular field of inquiry.
2 Specifying, defining, and classifying the concepts that relate to corresponding
empirical entities.
3 Developing statements which propose how concepts are inter-related.
4 State how the statements relate to each other in a systematic and logical way.
The first stage, describing the phenomena related to the particular field of inquiry, is more often associated with research than with theory construction. However, research and theory construction are inextricably interwoven and the astute and accurate descriptions of a phenomena are just as essential to theory building as they are to research. Downs (1975) has made reference to this very point:
Description is a scientific enterprise that is often downgraded, probably because it lacks the elegance of theoretically grounded research. . . . First, careful description of a situation can avoid many abortive attempts at research which is presumably but not actually related to a problem area