theoryfree

Theoryfree is a term used in philosophy of science and methodology to describe a research stance that minimizes reliance on predefined theories or theoretical frameworks. Proponents describe theoryfree inquiry as focusing on observable phenomena, open-ended data gathering, and inductive reasoning, with less commitment to specific explanatory models at the outset.

Origin and usage: The term surfaces in discussions about theory-laden observation and the role of theory in interpretation. It is typically contrasted with theory-driven or hypothesis-led approaches. In practice, theoryfree methods aim to let data guide discovery rather than constrain it with prior expectations.

Methods and examples: In qualitative research, theoryfree work may employ open coding and emergent categorization without an initial coding frame. In quantitative work, it can involve exploratory data analysis, data mining, or pilot studies that seek patterns before formulating hypotheses.

Applications and reception: Theoryfree approaches are used in early-stage research, cross-disciplinary explorations, and fields with rapid data accumulation. Critics argue that completely theory-free analysis is impractical because methodological choices are theory-informed, and that theory helps interpret results and choose variables; others see it as a valuable check against overfitting.

See also: Grounded theory, exploratory data analysis, inductive reasoning, hypothesis generation, theory-ladenness.