Theorievorm

Theorievorm, literally “theory formation” in Dutch, refers to the process by which researchers construct explanatory frameworks for understanding phenomena. It encompasses framing a problem, synthesizing prior knowledge, and developing a theoretical apparatus that can account for observed patterns and generate testable implications. In English-language scholarship the term is usually rendered as theorization or theory formation.

Theorievorm combines elements of conceptualization, model-building, and hypothesis generation. It relies on reasoning from data and observations (inductive), the derivation of predictions from principles (deductive), and occasionally the search for plausible explanations that best fit the evidence (abductive). It also involves making explicit assumptions about mechanisms, relationships, and boundary conditions.

Typical stages include identifying a research problem, reviewing existing theories, defining constructs and relationships, proposing propositions or a conceptual model, and outlining how the theory would be tested. The result is a theoretical framework that guides study design, measurement, and interpretation of findings. Theorievorm is often iterative: empirical results may lead to theory refinement or reformulation.

Applications span sciences and humanities, where clear theories help organize knowledge, compare findings, and predict outcomes. Common critiques focus on subjectivity, insularity, or the risk of overfitting a theory to limited data. In practice, scholars strive for coherence, falsifiability, and an explicit account of assumptions to support robust theorievorm.