Tools, Toys, Truisms, and Theories: Some Thoughts on the Creative Cycle of Theory Formation
- 1 May 2004
- journal article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Personality and Social Psychology Review
- Vol. 8 (2), 123-131
- https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327957pspr0802_5
Abstract
Theory creation underlies the basic laws of evolution, calling for both random variation (loosening) and critical selection processes (tightening). Theory construction requires support of both components. However, whereas psychology has created a refined methodology for the tightening stage, attempts to understand the loosening stage of the creative cycle are conspicuously missing. I propose that both aspects of the creative cycle of theory formation can be acquired and exercised playfully, through distinct loosening and tightening games. I outline the rules of these games and illustrate them with examples from contemporary research.Keywords
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