Making Theory Contributions Clear: Martin Kilduff on Philosophy of Science and Scholarship

This podcast episode features Dr. Martin Kilduff, Professor of Organizations and Innovation at UCL School of Management, in conversation with Dr. Mohammed Raei. The dialogue explores Kilduff’s influential work on theory contribution, particularly his framework derived from the philosophy of science. Kilduff traces the origins of this work to his experience teaching a doctoral course in philosophy of science, which led him to grapple with the unintelligibility of much of the field and the absence of a clear framework for theory contribution in organizational studies. The discussion highlights four distinct approaches—empiricism, strong paradigm advocacy, instrumentalism, and realism—mapped across two dimensions: truth claims and the representativeness of theoretical terms. Kilduff illustrates the strengths and limitations of each approach, while underscoring the role of instrumentalism and empiricism in contemporary research, particularly given the rise of big data. The conversation also addresses challenges for early-career scholars, offering practical strategies such as Jay Barney’s three-paragraph rule for articulating contributions. Finally, Raei and Kilduff reflect on the implications of transdisciplinary and boundary-spanning work, warning of both the promise and perils of venturing beyond disciplinary homes. The episode provides conceptual clarity and pragmatic insights into how scholars can frame contributions that resonate across diverse audiences.

 

Resources:

 

*FROM BLUE SKY RESEARCH TO PROBLEM SOLVING: A PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE THEORY
OF NEW KNOWLEDGE PRODUCTION
Author(s): MARTIN KILDUFF, AJAY MEHRA and MARY B. DUNN
Source: The Academy of Management Review, April 2011, Vol. 36, No. 2 (April 2011), pp.
297-317

* Where's the theory contribution? An answer in four parts

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/20413866241233739