A Multidisciplinary Framework for Theory Building

IN 1986, THE AUTHORS PROPOSED a taxonomy of theory for library and information studies research. The purpose of this paper is to propose a revised model for theory building, called Circuits of Theory, that includes both the taxonomy and the critical contextual modules researchers consider in their work. These modules surround the taxonomy and encompass the concepts of individual as well as social knowledge, both discovered and undiscovered. This work has been done not to replace the original taxonomy, but-as the title implies-to revise it in light of a broader vision. INTRODUCTION More than fifteen years ago, the authors (Grover & Glazier, 1986), proposed a taxonomy of theory intended to outline the relationships between multiple levels of phenomena, theory, and paradigmatic perspectives. The taxonomy initially was based on data drawn from an ethnographic study of city managers (Grover & Glazier, 1984), an extensive study of qualitative methods and methodologies (Grover & Glazier, 1985), and a review of the library and information science and social science literature. The purpose of the taxonomy was defined as “. . . a framework for generating and testing theory in library and information science” (Grover & Glazier, 1985, p. 253). It served as a means of highlighting the hierarchical relationships among the concepts of research, theory, paradigms, and phenomena. This taxonomy (see Figure 1) came at a time when the discipline of library and information science was in the throes of selfdefinition and on Jack D. Glazier, Associate Professor, School of Library and Information Management, Emporia State University, 1200 Commercial, Emporia, KS 66801 Robert Grover, Dean, School of Library and Information Management, Emporia State University, 1200 Commercial, Emporia, KS 66801 LIBRARY TRENDS, Vol. 50, No. 3, Winter 2002, pp. 317-329 02002 The Board of Trustees, University of Illinois 318 LIBRARY TRENDS/WINTER 2 0 0 2