Doing Theorodology in Qualitative Research

Most social scientists agree that the relationship among theory, method, and data is profoundly iterative, marked by multiple rounds of back-and-forth among existing theories, research methods, and empirical puzzles. Paul DiMaggio once framed research problems as fundamentally “theorodological” (a mash-up between “theoretical” and “methodological”). In DiMaggio’s reading, theory and method aren’t separable—and the most interesting problems engage with both as entwined concepts. As interdisciplinary researchers who work and advise students primarily in qualitative research, we ask: how can a social scientist “do” theorodology? Over the years, we have developed a set of tools and metaphors to aid in this endeavor: (a) theorodology by walking around; (b) theorodology through interdisciplinarity; (c) theorodology as brick work; (d) theorodology through costume fitting; and (e) the “square peg” moment of theorodology. We conclude by discussing the broader importance of bringing together theory and methods when thinking about innovation and creativity in social science research.