Quantitative Research and Theory Building: Dubin’s Method

Abstract

The problem and the solution. There are a number of strategies and methods that the theory builder can use to develop applied theory. Each strategy and method is informed by assumptions about what makes for knowledge and in turn good theory—and each is a way of seeing and understanding the phenomenon central to the theory. Dubin, a recognized scholar in applied theory building, advocates a theory-then-research strategy and quantitative hypothetico-deductive approach to applied theory building. This chapter focuses on Dubin’s quantitative method of theory building for applied disciplines, a two-part, eight-steptheory-building method as a specific variation of the general method of theory-building research in applied disciplines presented in chapter 1.