Lecture with Professor Richard Swedberg, Cornell University

IOA Public Lecture Series, 'Organizing Uncertainty'

From Theory to Theorizing

by Professor Richard Swedberg, Cornell University

Slides from the seminar:

Since World War II methods have advanced very quickly in sociology and social science, while this has not been the case with theory. In this talk I suggest that one way of beginning to close the gap between the two, might be to focus on theorizing rather than on theory. The place where theorizing can be used in the most effective way, I suggest, is in the context of discovery. What needs to be discussed are especially ways for how to develop theory before hypotheses are formulated and tested. To be successful in this, we need to assign an independent place to theorizing and also to develop some basic rules for how to theorize. An attempt is made to formulate such rules; it is also argued that theorizing can only be successful if it is done in close unison with observation in what is called a prestudy. Theorizing has turned into a skill when it is iterative, draws on intuitive ways of thinking, and goes beyond the basic rules for theorizing.

The lecture will be followed by a reception.

For registration: mli.ioa@cbs.dk

before 12th of March

Contact person:

Mette Lisby, Academic Co-ordinator, CBS Public-Private Platform mli.ioa@cbs.dk

The Department of Organization (IOA) will host a Public Lecture series at CBS on the theme of 'Organizing Uncertainty' during the academic year 2010-2012. The aim of the series is to bring to the School internationally renowned scholars whose work has had a distinctive impact on the social and human sciences in general, and the study of various aspects of contemporary organizational life in particular.