"Talkin’ ‘Bout a Revolution": Considering Data-Driven Theorizing
Abstract
Most of the quantitative work in management and organizational psychology emphasizes a deductive theory testing approach. In this paper, we focus on data-driven theorizing as an alternative, complementary approach to deduction. The increasing availability of (big) data and sophisticated methods provide opportunities for data-driven theory building and refinement as another way to build knowledge and advance the field. We explain how using data-driven theorizing in responsible and transparent ways can inform knowledge creation and theorizing, and we discuss opportunities and challenges. We also give recommendations for authors, reviewers, editors, and the discipline aimed at increasing transparency and stimulating responsible data-driven theorizing as well as increasing openness to the explorative use of quantitative data in our field.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Management and Organizational Studies
Social Power and Status Dynamics
Meta-analysis and systematic reviews
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Organizational Psychology Review
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Volume
- 16
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 73–89
- Publication date
- 19 January 2026
- Language
- EN