Toolkit: When to Reach for Theory (and how to find a new dimension)

Dall-E image: Four frames, illustrating some hands in three of the four, perhaps a calendar and magnet in the upper left, a 3D graph in upper right, a bar chart in lower left, and a network in lower right, along with a piece of paper showing a pedestrian.

Not every research problem needs a new theory. Some need better measurement, clearer framing, or more careful modelling. But sometimes, none of those suffice, because the question we’re asking lacks the right dimension to express it. This post is about knowing when you’ve reached that point, and what to do next. Do You Actually Need a New … Continue reading Toolkit: When to Reach for Theory (and how to find a new dimension)

David Levinson