The shape of theory: an alternative take on theorizing based on the nature of qualitative data

The development of theory from qualitative research is typically discussed in highly abstract terms and shrouded in an aura of mystery. Novice researchers that are new to exploratory or inductive type research, in particular, may find the lack of concrete guidance unhelpful. The objective of this book chapter is to make qualitative theorizing accessible by unpacking the seemingly abstract and inscrutable process of theory development. Specifically, we first discuss what theory is and the criteria of a good theory so as to establish an understanding of what the process is aimed toward. Next, we review a number of existing perspectives of theory development and their limitations before discussing our unique take on the process, which draws on an architecture analogy and is centered on the aesthetic quality of theory. Finally, we elaborate on our perspective by discussing a number of basic “shapes” that theories can take, which may be determined by the nature of the data from which they are constructed, before highlighting a number of caveats to pay attention to.