Orthogonality: Developing a structural/perspectival approach for improving theoretical models

Abstract

AbstractIn order to create more useful theories we must attempt to choose better concepts (variables). Although we may strive to identify “independent” variables, that effort is problematic because we live in a world where everything is connected; also, attempting to obtain even nominally independent variables may require sophisticated analytical methodologies available only to well‐funded researchers and practitioners. To help resolve those problems, and so provide an improved path for developing more useful theories, we explore the notion of orthogonality as a tool for rethinking concepts in a theory, from a structural perspective, in a way that clarifies research opportunities (from a data perspective) and clarifies situational/theoretical perspectives (from a relevance perspective).