Testing management theories: critical realist philosophy and research methods
从批判实在论视角出发，指出检验战略管理与组织理论时面临的实践和哲学困难，强调证伪与验证对理论发展的重要性，并提出四步法优先检验假设的因果机制，而非仅依赖相关方法。
Abstract This study identifies the practical and philosophical difficulties associated with testing strategic management and organization theories. Working from a critical realist perspective, we affirm the importance of falsification and verification efforts for progress in theory development. We advocate a four‐step approach for advancing theory testing that prioritizes identifying and testing for the presence and effects of hypothesized causal mechanisms, rather than solely focusing on correlational methods to jointly test the set of effects composing a theoretical system. Going beyond prior critical realist writings, we provide practical guidance for deploying established research methods to test management theories. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.