Grand Theory

Grand theory is the broadest form of theory within a discipline. A theory can be described as a set of concepts and the relationships among them. In the human sciences, theories are often classified by their scope, from the narrowest in scope to the broadest. Micro theories, sometimes referred to as partial or situational theories, have the narrowest scope. Micro theories are restricted to a particular phenomenon or, as the name suggests, situation. Some scientists have equated micro theories with research hypotheses because their narrow scope makes it possible for such theories to be tested with as little as one research study.

Mid-range theories, which have been described as being particularly useful for practice disciplines, are more abstract and inclusive than micro theories but remain testable, although such testing may require a program of research or series of studies in which specific concepts and relationships in the theory are tested individually. Mid-range theories have been described as particularly useful for practice disciplines and have been the focus of recent theory development efforts in (for example) nursing.

Grand theories, sometimes referred to as conceptual frameworks or conceptual models, develop overall explanations for a discipline or body of knowledge. The concepts addressed by grand theories are highly abstract and cannot easily be operationalized into variables or used in hypotheses. Thus, grand theories are untestable. Some authors have described grand theories as normative; that is, that grand theories describe not the way a discipline is, but the way that discipline should be. Grand theories, though untestable, are often useful as organizing frameworks for knowledge development or as foundations for mid-range theory development. Examples of grand theories can be found in many disciplines. Theoretical physicists are at work on a grand unified theory, which would reconcile electromagnetism with weak and strong nuclear forces. In sociology, Talcott Parsons's structural-functional theory, developed in the 1960s, has had considerable influence. In nursing, a number of grand theories were developed in the 1970s and 1980s in an attempt to describe nursing's unique disciplinary body of knowledge. Examples of grand theories of nursing include the theory of health as expanding consciousness and the self-care deficit theory. Qualitative researchers use an array of grand theories from symbolic interactionism to general systems theory. In [Page 374]addition, explicitly normative grand theories such as Marxism and feminism are common in qualitative research, although there is disagreement about whether these approaches are grand theories, ideological orientations, or epistemological traditions.

The scope of grand theories has of course led to criticisms. Grand theories have been described as too broad, leading to oversimplification of complex issues; as lacking in clear definitions of central concepts; as empirically unverifiable (i.e., untestable); and as static and unresponsive to changing conditions. Despite these criticisms, grand theory continues to hold an important place in knowledge development in the human sciences.