ABSTRACT
The above quote by evolutionary biologist Leigh Van Valen suggests a reason for the lack of interest in methods for, what he calls, “metadisciplinary analysis”. He sees the mind of the generalist as not responsive to the “sequential” or, he might also have said, rule-based nature of method. If this observation has any truth in it at all, then such reservations will need to be overcome. In this chapter it is argued that generalist research must not only be open to method but be innovative and enthusiastic about its application to metatheoretical studies. Until now, most metatheory has been developed through forms of scholarship which rely on philosophical insight, idiosyncratic theory analysis and rational argument. This type of traditional scholarship might provide an excellent means for private inspiration (Billig, 2004) but it is hardly adequate for establishing a rigorous research base for what should be an important scientifi c fi eld.
