iconEncyclopedia
Encyclopedia of Educational Leadership and AdministrationPub. date: 2006 | Online Pub. Date: September 15, 2007 | DOI: 10.4135/9781412939584 | Print ISBN: 9780761930877 | Online ISBN: 9781412939584| Publisher:SAGE Publications, Inc.
About this encyclopediaTheories, Use of
Arthur Shapiro
A theory is essentially a set of assumptions from which a set of empirical laws (or principles) may be derived. What makes a theory a theory? For a proposal to be a theory, it must be descriptive, analytical, and predictive. To be descriptive, it must point to the phenomenon being described, such as a series of behaviors being described by a leadership theory. Next, it must analyze relevant phenomena. For example, some leadership behavior may be classified as structuring tasks, while others as concern for subordinates' wellbeing. Last, ...
Users without subscription are not able to see the full content on this title. Please, subscribe or login to access all content on this website.

