Behavioral assumptions and theory development: the case of transaction cost economics
从批判实在论视角，探讨行为假设在组织理论中的作用，以交易成本经济学为例，区分基于假设和忽略假设的检验，指出实证研究多忽略假设，建议管理学者重视基于假设的检验。
Abstract From a critical realist perspective, I discuss the role played by behavioral assumptions in organization theories, and use transaction cost economics as an illustrative example. Core behavioral assumptions often constitute the foundation of the mechanismic explanations of a theory, and thus should play a pivotal role in theory development. I distinguish between assumption‐based and assumption‐omitted theory testing, and show that empirical research in transaction cost economics has been dominated by assumption‐omitted testing. To establish a solid foundation for a new theory, management researchers should pay more attention to assumption‐based testing. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.