Abstract
Abstract As a powerful means of theory building, conceptual articles are increasingly called for in marketing academia. However, researchers struggle to design and write non-empirical articles because of the lack of commonly accepted templates to guide their development. The aim of this paper is to highlight methodological considerations for conceptual papers: it is argued that such papers must be grounded in a clear research design, and that the choice of theories and their role in the analysis must be explicated and justified. The paper discusses four potential templates for conceptual papers – Theory Synthesis, Theory Adaptation, Typology, and Model – and their respective aims, approach for using theories, and contribution potential. Supported by illustrative examples, these templates codify some of the tacit knowledge that underpins the design of non-empirical papers and will be of use to anyone undertaking, supervising, or reviewing conceptual research.
Keywords
TypologyManagement scienceComputer scienceConceptual frameworkAdaptation (eye)Conceptual modelEngineering ethicsTacit knowledgeKnowledge managementDevelopment theoryEmpirical researchSociologyEpistemologyPsychologyEngineeringSocial science
Affiliated Institutions
Related Publications
A design theory for systems that support emergent knowledge processes
This paper addresses the design problem of providing IT support for emerging knowledge processes (EKPs). EKPs are organizational activity patterns that exhibit three characteris...
Conceptual and design thinking for thematic analysis.
Thematic analysis (TA) is widely used in qualitative psychology. In using TA, researchers must choose between a diverse range of approaches that can differ considerably in their...
Analyzing the past to prepare for the future: writing a literature review
A review of prior, relevant literature is an essential feature of any academic project. An effective review creates a firm foundation for advancing knowledge. It facilitates the...
Memory: Performance, knowledge, and experience
Abstract The relation between three aspects of memory—behaviour, knowledge, and conscious experience—is discussed. Memory research of the past has tended to concentrate on memor...
Big Data, Big Insights? Advancing Service Innovation and Design With Machine Learning
Service innovation is intertwined with service design, and knowledge from both fields should be integrated to advance theoretical and normative insights. However, studies bridgi...
Publication Info
- Year
- 2020
- Type
- article
- Volume
- 10
- Issue
- 1-2
- Pages
- 18-26
- Citations
- 1232
- Access
- Closed
External Links
Social Impact
Altmetric
PlumX Metrics
Social media, news, blog, policy document mentions
Citation Metrics
1232
OpenAlex
Cite This
Elina Jaakkola
(2020).
Designing conceptual articles: four approaches.
AMS Review
, 10
(1-2)
, 18-26.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13162-020-00161-0
Identifiers
- DOI
- 10.1007/s13162-020-00161-0