ABSTRACT
Theory holds an important but ambiguous position in the social sciences, revered by some, reviled by others. In the standard model of science, theory is of primary importance. The formulation of theories that ‘work’ is regarded as the very raison d’être of the scientific enterprise. Theorists are afforded correspondingly high prestige, and are set apart from the technicians who immerse themselves in conducting experiments and gathering data. Phillips and Pugh (2000), for example, see commitment to theory as the hallmark of research. It is this, they believe, that distinguishes (real) research from (mere) descriptive ‘intelligence gathering’ (Box 3.1).
