Mid‐range theories about families: A primer and introduction to the special issue

Abstract

AbstractThere is a dearth of research in family science that truly uses theory to inform its hypotheses, methods, analyses, and interpretation of findings. On the deductive side, scholars often engage in “post hoc theorizing,” adding on whatever theory seems to fit their findings after the fact, or fail to mention the theory at all. Similar problems exist with inductive research, with far more scholars claiming to use a grounded theory approach, for example, than actually engaging in the development of theory from their data. Mid‐range theories are a promising entry point for scholars to engage in theorizing. Mid‐range theories constitute the “middle ground” between formal theories and empirical generalizations, using theoretical constructs and propositions to explain or predict a particular phenomenon. This special issue brings together scholars across different theoretical frameworks and topics to theorize about families, and this introductory article presents strategies for teaching and engaging in mid‐range theorizing.