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A qualitative study was conducted to examine the philosophy of technology of K-12 technology leaders, and explore the influence of their thinking on technology decision making. The research design aligned with Corbin and Strauss grounded theory methods, and I proceeded from a research paradigm of critical realism. The subjects were school technology directors and instructional technology specialists, and data collection consisted of interviews and a written questionnaire. Data analysis involved the use of grounded theory methods including memo writing, open and axial coding, constant comparison, the use of purposive and theoretical sampling, and theoretical saturation of categories. Three broad philosophy of technology views were widely held by participants: an instrumental view of technology, technological optimism, and a technological determinist perspective that saw technological change as inevitable. Technology leaders were guided by two main approaches to technology decision making, represented by the categories Educational goals and curriculum should drive technology, and Keep up with technology (or be left behind). The core category and central phenomenon that emerged was that technology leaders approached technology leadership by placing greater emphasis on keeping up with technology, being influenced by an ideological orientation to technological change, and being concerned about preparing students for a technological future. (author's abstract)

The article presents a process by which qualitative case study implementation research may be cumulated. Using the concept of the hermeneutic spiral, an iterative process is employed in order to increase understanding of welfare implementation since the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act. This process involves a review of recent welfare reform literature, the use of the knowing organization model (KOM) as a research frame for understanding the existing literature and the application of the KOM to primary data collected from county welfare offices in Pennsylvania. Adapted from the source document.

Summary This paper examines the use of theory in social work methods geared towards promoting participation of vulnerable groups, a subject that has been barely – if at all – researched empirically. The study comprised an analysis of 46 methods documented in the database of the Netherlands Institute for Social Development and interviews with social workers and educators. Findings Social work methods for participation are interspersed with theoretical notions. While the study shows that there is no shortage of theories in this field, what is more problematic are their use and integration. Incorporating theories in such a way that they provide an underpinning of the work method poses a challenge. Many theories appear to be presented out of window dressing, deviate from their original source in the literature, or are narrow in their paradigmatic focus, overlooking alternative theories that could promote or offer better nuanced participation perspectives. Applications The paper proposes criteria for a 'theoretical underpinning' and provides suggestions for a proper use of theory in social work methods.

Social Impact Assessment (SIA) is a method of policy analysis that offers great potential for integrating scientific policy analysis into a democratic political process. This potential has not been realized in large part because there has been no theoretical framework to guide SIA. In this paper I propose such a framework, using Habermas'(1970) pragmatistic approach to policy. The framework suggests heavy emphasis on use of SIA early in the policy process and on methods that emphasize impact identification and portrayal.

Today's society is served by modern technology, accompanied by effects of insecurity and uncertainty, which are important and inevitable. Engineering analysis must include methods of assessing these impacts on the design, implementation and operation of technical systems. Mathematical statistics and probability theory provide the mathematical basis for modeling unreliability and analysis as well as their impact on already built technical systems. The aim of the paper is to introduce quantitative methods that enable systematic development of planned and constructed criteria, problem modeling and evaluation of economically technical optimum.

Experiments have long played a crucial role in various scientific disciplines and have been gaining ground in organization theory, where they add unique value by establishing causality and uncovering theoretical mechanisms. This essay provides an overview of the merits and procedures of the experimental methodology, with an emphasis on its application to organization theory. Drawing on the historical roots of experiments and their impact across science, we argue the method holds immense potential for furthering organization theory. We highlight key advantages of experimental methods, including high internal and construct validity, vividness in communicating findings, the capacity to examine complex and understudied phenomena, and the identification of microfoundations and theoretical mechanisms. We alleviate some concerns about external validity and offer guidance for designing and conducting sound, reproducible experimental research. Ultimately, we contend that the current experimental turn holds the potential to reorient organization theory. History: This paper has been accepted for the Organization Science Special Issue on Experiments in Organizational Theory. Funding: This work was supported by the Otto Moensted Foundation, which granted the Otto Moensted Visiting Professorship to S. S. Levine, and a National Science Foundation CAREER Award from the Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences [Grant 1943688] to O. Schilke. Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2023.18093 .