What qualifies as a good theory?

The following is a brief idea of the features of a good theory as per Bacharach.

In order for a theory to be called a theory it should satisfy the rules of falsifiability and usability.  Falsification means  that it should be empirically disprovable or refutable. Usability means it should help examine and predict phenomena. In order that a theory is falsifiable and usable, it should containlawlike generalisations of if/then statements, have empirical content and exhibit nomic necessity. Nomic is the requirement to be associated and not be by chance.


In addition one could identify two modes in relation to the theory process 1. The theory testing and 2. theory forming.  Theory testing is about assessing if accepted theories/conclusions are falsified by empirical facts and is called EMPIRICAL RESEARCH. Theory forming  is about constructing new theories for those that are found inadequate to represent empirical facts and is generally called CONCEPTUAL RESEARCH.


The empirical research process is as follows:-

General reality by and large is explained by the existing knowledge, assumptions,  axioms and principles. Observations of the existing reality  largely in line with the above knowledge, assumptions , axioms and principles, leads to generalisations about phenomena or parts of phenomena. These generalisations take the form of a Theory model built of concepts, relationships and propositions. They form an abstracted reality OR a mental  model. These abstractions are made obserable (conjectures) into Hypotheses.


Tools and Procedures  for recording observation give the Measurement techniques

Actions for generating observations yield the research design. Observation, generation and recording give the observed reality. Comparisons of Patterns of observable abstraction and observed reality yield the data analysis. Conclusions about support or non support for hypotheses completes the research process.