Introduction: The role of methodology in semiotic theory building

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 5-32
Author(s):  
Karin Boklund-Lagopoulou ◽  
Alexandros Ph. Lagopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Theory Building ◽  
Semiotic Theory

Contributions of Contemporary Political Science to an Understanding of the Common Good

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.J. Matthew Carnes
Keyword(s):  
Political Science ◽  
Common Good ◽  
Scientific Theory ◽  
Theory Building ◽  
Catholic Theology ◽  
Politics And Government ◽  
The Common Good ◽  
The Common ◽  
Nature And Society

The transformation of political science in recent decades opens the door for a new but so far poorly cultivated examination of the common good. Four significant “turns” characterize the modern study of politics and government. Each is rooted in the discipline’s increased emphasis on empirical rigor, with its attendant scientific theory-building, measurement, and hypothesis testing. Together, these new orientations allow political science to enrich our understanding of causality, our basic definitions of the common good, and our view of human nature and society. In particular, the chapter suggests that traditional descriptions of the common good in Catholic theology have been overly irenic and not sufficiently appreciative of the role of contention in daily life, on both a national and international scale.

The imagination, the conscious, and the unconscious in Jean Cocteau’s La Belle et la Bête

Semiotica ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Dalvesco
Keyword(s):  
Main Character ◽  
The Unconscious ◽  
Sign Relations ◽  
Semiotic Theory

AbstractCharles S. Peirce’s and Sigmund Freud’s theories may be used to interpret Jean Cocteau’s film La Belle et la Bête (1946). This film has a specific set of codes which connote its filmic language. Cocteau uses fetishistic objects as symbols and icons to reflect the psychological meaning of the film’s narrative. Peirce’s icons and symbols include the connection a person may make through the conventions and expressions of language a person links with the object or idea being observed. Peirce’s semiotic theory functions as a theory of communication. His theory refocuses on culture. Freud’s theories can be linked with ideas produced by Peirce in forming sign relations with the interpretation of the film and the role of imagination in the film. Especially important are Freud’s ideas of repression, conscious and unconscious as they relate to Cocteau’s filmic narrative and the film’s main character Belle.

scholarly journals Indirectness in the Age of Globalization: A Social Network Analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 930-949
Author(s):  
Marina Terkourafi
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
American English ◽  
Historical Context ◽  
Theory Building ◽  
Network Ties ◽  
British English ◽  
Theoretical Predictions ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Individual Self

Indirectness has traditionally been viewed as commensurate with politeness and attributed to the speaker’s wish to avoid imposition and/or otherwise strategically manipulate the addressee. Despite these theoretical predictions, a number of studies have documented the solidarity-building and identity-constituting functions of indirectness. Bringing these studies together, Terkourafi 2014 proposed an expanded view of the functions of indirect speech, which crucially emphasizes the role of the addressee and the importance of network ties. This article focuses on what happens when such network ties become loosened, as a result of processes of urbanization and globalization. Drawing on examples from African American English and Chinese, it is argued that these processes produce a need for increased explicitness, which drives speakers (and listeners) away from indirectness. This claim is further supported diachronically, by changes in British English politeness that coincide with the rise of the individual Self. These empirical findings have implications for im/politeness theorizing and theory-building more generally, calling attention to how the socio-historical context of our research necessarily influences the theories we end up building.

scholarly journals Productive perils: on metaphor as a theory-building device

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 102-111
Author(s):  
Claudio J Rodríguez H
Keyword(s):  
Theory Change ◽  
Theory Building ◽  
Making Sense ◽  
Semiotic Theory ◽  
The Way

AbstractMetaphors constitute a relevant method for both building and making sense of theories. Semiotics is not exempt from their influence, and an important range of semiotic theories depends on metaphors to be meaningful. In this paper, we wish to examine the place of theory-constitutive metaphors considering the interaction view and the extent to which some areas of semiotics, particularly, the semiotics of culture and biosemiotics, are enriched by having metaphors dominate the way we think about them. The intention of the paper is not to document the different metaphors that have built semiotic theory, but rather to observe through a number of examples that semiotic research contains theory-building metaphors and that these are productive means of developing semiotic thinking further, with the caveat that theory change can be unexpected based on how we build metaphors for our theories.

scholarly journals Understanding the nature of science and scientific progress: A theory-building approach

2010 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Chuy ◽  
Marlene Scardamalia ◽  
Carl Bereiter ◽  
Fleur Prinsen ◽  
Monica Resendes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nature Of Science ◽  
Knowledge Building ◽  
Scientific Progress ◽  
Theory Building ◽  
Collaborative Project ◽  
Technological Support ◽  
Constructivist Inquiry ◽  
Inquiry Approach ◽  
Approach To Teaching

In 1993 Carey and Smith conjectured that the most promising way to boost students’ understanding of the nature of science is a “theory-building approach to teaching about inquiry.” The research reported here tested this conjecture by comparing results from two Grade 4 classrooms that differed in their emphasis on and technological support for creating and improving theories. One class followed a Knowledge Building approach and used Knowledge Forum®, which together emphasize theory improvement and sustained creative work with ideas. The other class followed an inquiry approach mediated through collaborative project-based activities. Apart from this, the two classes were demographically similar and both fell within the broad category of constructivist, inquiry-based approaches and employed a range of modes and media for investigative research and reports. An augmented version of Carey and Smith’s Nature of Science Interview showed that the Knowledge Building approach resulted in deeper understanding of the nature of theoretical progress, the connections between theories and facts, and the role of ideas in scientific inquiry.

scholarly journals When function meets emotion, change can happen: Societal value propositions and disruptive potential in fintechs

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 277-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Othmar M Lehner ◽  
Romina Simlinger
Keyword(s):  
State Of The Art ◽  
Theory Building ◽  
Entrepreneurial Finance ◽  
Digital Service ◽  
Societal Value ◽  
Functional Aspects ◽  
Inductive Theory ◽  
Financial Domain ◽  
Value Propositions

Fintechs, as providers of digital service innovations and as highly relevant and novel channels through which to deliver entrepreneurial finance based on the creative use of state-of-the-art technology in the financial domain, have thus far mainly been addressed in research by examining the functional aspects of their value propositions (VPs). This article thus sets out to gain insights into the interplay and overall role of societal VPs as potential antecedents and change catalysts in the formation of the often promised disruptive potential of fintechs for the financial sector. In an inductive, theory-building approach, the authors first examine how societal VPs transcend individual functional and emotional ones for entrepreneurs, and conclude with a conceptual model of how the former can build up the disruptive potential of fintechs and deliver apt solutions for entrepreneurs seeking finance.

The role of performance measurement models in multi level alignment

2014 ◽  
Vol 34 (9) ◽  
pp. 1153-1183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodney McAdam ◽  
Shirley-Ann Hazlett ◽  
Brendan Galbraith
Keyword(s):  
Performance Measurement ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Business Strategy ◽  
Theory Building ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Functional Strategy ◽  
Measurement Models ◽  
Level 1 ◽  
Level 2

Purpose – Market deregulation in the utilities sector has led to increased competition and rising customer expectations in both established and new markets. This, in turn, has forced organisations such as electricity and telecoms to make rapid, enterprise-wide changes on an increasingly frequent basis which in turn has led to problems with alignment. Misalignment can occur at many levels and can result in misused resources, loss of competitiveness, excessive cycle times, higher costs and loss of agility. The purpose of this paper is twofold. Given the lack of overarching theory, the paper begins by borrowing from contingency, dynamic capability and organisational learning constructs, to explore the role that performance measurement models can bring to improve the alignment between business strategy and functional strategy (level 1 alignment). Second, the paper analyses the role of performance measurement models in developing functional practices aligned with supply chain management (SCM) strategies (level 2 alignment). Design/methodology/approach – The study adopts an exploratory theory-building approach using four case studies. These are used as key supply chains in both established and new business areas within two longitudinal university-industry research partnerships (each of three years duration). Data from repeat interviews (n=42), focus groups (n=10), documentation and observations is analysed and forms the basis for the development of a conceptual framework and a set of related propositions. The data analysis followed Radnor and Boaden's (2004) method for analysing interpretive research. Findings – The findings show the role and impact of performance measurement models and methods on alignment at two levels, i.e. level 1 alignment – between business strategy and functional (SCM) strategy, and level 2 alignment – between the functional strategy (SCM) and SCM routines and practices. Originality/value – To date, there are few studies which explore the development of theory and practice in relation to the role and impact of performance measurement models and methods in improving organisational alignment. This exploratory theory building study makes a contribution to this gap through the development of the conceptual framework and propositions.

scholarly journals The Case of "Cora": Clinical and Methodological Perspectives 

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 207
Author(s):  
Ladislav Timulak ◽  
Daragh Keogh
Keyword(s):  
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Theory Building ◽  
Clinical Aspects ◽  
Methodological Aspects

<p>In this commentary we explore the clinical aspects of Halvorsen, Benum, Haavind, and McLeod&rsquo;s (2016) compelling case study of &ldquo;Cora.&rdquo; We were humbled by the courage and commitment of both the client and the therapist in the case. We begin by providing our perspective on how the therapist&rsquo;s flexibility regarding certain boundaries helped to build trust between him and the client; and on how this trust in turn allowed the client find the courage to bring the most painful aspects of her experience to therapy. We then comment on certain methodological aspects of the case study. We discuss ways in which the steps describing the choices authors made could have been made more explicit. We question the necessity to present the case in the format of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA; Smith, Flowers, &amp; Larkin, 2009). We also question whether &ldquo;theory building case study&rdquo; is the best description for this particular study. In addition, we comment briefly on some of the themes reported by the study and share our own interpretative process, pointing out both the significant overlap and also those points where our interpretation may differ from the authors, including the role of transference interpretations and immediacy in the success of the case. Finally, we provide our perspective on the discrepancy between the quantitative versus qualitative outcomes obtained in the case.&nbsp;</p>

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