Intermediate Theory: The Missing Link to Successful Student Scholarship
Date
2006-08-01
Authors
Tajalli, Hassan
Shields, Patricia M.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration
Abstract
Since 1998, five Texas State University students' capstone papers have won the Pi Alpha Alpha master's student paper award. This success rate is attributed to students' mastery of the art of building and using intermediate theory or conceptual frameworks in the early states of the Applied Research Project. This article introduces the notion of micro-conceptual frameworks and explains how students use them to connect all aspects of empirical inquiry--problem definition, purpose, literature review, methodology, data collection, and analysis. These conceptual frameworks act like maps that give coherence to the enterprise, and they are a critical missing link in successful student empirical research.
Description
Keywords
conceptual framework theory, pragmatism, Political Science
Citation
Shields, P. M. & Tajalli, H. (2006). Intermediate theory: The missing link to successful student scholarship. Journal of Public Affairs Education, 12(3), pp. 313-334.