From research findings to theory: the practice of inductive and experiential theorizing

Abstract Many research studies in semiotics and communication make important contributions by describing, interpreting, or explaining particular phenomena. Yet relatively few culminate in the development of a theory that integrates their findings into a broader conceptual framework. As a result, valuable insights often remain tied to the specific context in which they were generated rather than contributing to a more general understanding of the phenomenon under investigation. This essay explores how scholars can move from the findings of a completed study to the development of a theory by offering a systematic process for transforming empirical insights into abstract theoretical explanations. We describe the steps involved in two forms of theory construction – inductive and experiential. Inductive theorizing is a bottom-up approach in which researchers collect and code data, identify recurring patterns, develop theoretical constructs, and explicate the relationships among those constructs to generate a new theory. Experiential theory construction begins with the recognition that an existing theory is inadequate for explaining a phenomenon. Researchers then articulate an alternative starting point and develop a new theory that offers a more compelling explanation. We illustrate these two approaches with the theories of visual enactment and constricted and constructed potentiality.