On Behalf of Nïveté

Abstract

Abstract Peering Into Mirrors The phenomena we see reflect ourselves. When we report what we see, our reports tell much about ourselves-they may even tell more about us than about the phenomena we claim to be observing (Starbuck and Milliken, 1988). In research, the phenomena we see reflect our analytic procedures. When we report research findings, our reports tell much about our analytic procedures. Our reports may tell more about our analytic procedures than about the phenomena we claim to be analyzing (Starbuck, 1981; Webster and Starbuck, 1988). This chapter advocates changes in our theorizing and our testing of theories. These changes would help us to formulate more meaningful theories and to evaluate them more rigorously. Although the issues and prescriptions apply generally, the discussion emphasizes time series because these are central in studies of evolutionary dynamics. A time series is a sequence of observations collected over time-for example, annual counts of steel mills over 30 years.