Crafting Your Theoretical Contribution

This is a fantastic and crucial task for any theoretical/conceptual paper. A clear theoretical contribution is the heart of your work, demonstrating its originality and impact.

Let's break down how to clearly state your theoretical contribution or argument.

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How to Clearly State Your Theoretical Contribution or Argument

Your theoretical contribution is what new understanding, framework, explanation, or critique your paper brings to your field that fundamentally changes how scholars think about a phenomenon, concept, or relationship. It's not just a summary of existing literature, but a leap forward in knowledge.

1. Identify the Core Problem or Gap Your Paper Addresses

Before you can state your contribution, you need to articulate why it's needed. What is currently lacking, misunderstood, or incomplete in the existing literature?

• What is the prevailing assumption or theory that you are challenging, refining, or extending?


• What important phenomenon or relationship is currently unexplained or poorly explained?


• What conceptual confusion or ambiguity exists that your paper seeks to clarify?


• What two (or more) disparate areas of research are you bringing together in a novel way?


• What are the limitations of existing frameworks in addressing a new or evolving context?

Think: "The field currently understands X in this way, but this understanding is incomplete/flawed/limited because Y. My paper addresses Y."

2. Articulate Your Unique Insight or Argument

This is the core of your contribution. What is the new idea you are introducing?

• Are you proposing a new theory, model, or framework? If so, what are its key components and how do they relate?


• Are you refining, extending, or challenging an existing theory? If so, what specific aspects are you changing, and why is your revision better?


• Are you synthesizing disparate theories or concepts? If so, what is the new lens or overarching perspective that emerges from this synthesis?


• Are you offering a new explanation for an existing phenomenon? What is the mechanism or logic you're introducing?


• Are you introducing a new concept or re-conceptualizing an existing one? How does this new understanding alter the field's perspective?


• Are you developing a critical perspective on dominant theories or assumptions? What are the hidden implications or biases you're exposing?

Think: "To address Y, I propose Z (my new theory/framework/argument). Z suggests that [core mechanism/relationship]."

3. Clearly State the "How" and "Why" of Your Contribution

It's not enough to say what you're doing; you need to explain how it contributes and why it's significant.

• How does your contribution fill the identified gap or solve the problem?


• How does it differ from, improve upon, or challenge existing work? What makes it novel?


• What are the key mechanisms, assumptions, or relationships within your theory/argument?


• What are the implications for future research, practice, or understanding?

Think: "Unlike existing approaches that focus on [X], my argument emphasizes [Y], thereby providing a more nuanced/comprehensive/critical understanding of [phenomenon]. This shift in perspective opens new avenues for research on [implication]."

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Frameworks & Templates for Stating Your Contribution

Here are some general templates you can adapt, moving from identifying the gap to stating your solution and its impact:

Template 1: Gap-Solution-Impact

"Despite extensive research on [Topic A], the field has largely overlooked/struggled to explain [Gap/Problem B]. This paper addresses this oversight by developing a novel theoretical framework of [Your Theory/Framework C] which posits that [Core Argument/Mechanism D]. By doing so, we offer a more comprehensive understanding of [Phenomenon E] and provide a foundation for future research exploring [Implication F]."

Template 2: Challenging/Refining Existing Theory

"Prevailing theories of [Theory X] have long assumed [Assumption A] to explain [Phenomenon B]. However, this paper argues that [Assumption A] is incomplete/misleading because [Reason C]. We propose a refined/alternative theory of [Your Theory Y] that incorporates [New Element D], demonstrating how [Mechanism E] better accounts for [Phenomenon B], particularly in contexts of [Context F]. This theoretical refinement challenges the foundational premises of [Theory X] and opens new directions for empirical inquiry."

Template 3: Integrating Disparate Concepts

"While the literatures on [Concept A] and [Concept B] have developed independently, this paper argues that a deeper understanding of [Phenomenon C] requires their integration. We theorize [Your Integrated Concept/Framework D] by drawing on insights from [Theory X] and [Theory Y] to show how [Mechanism E] links [Concept A] and [Concept B] in shaping [Phenomenon C]. This synthesis provides a new conceptual lens that enriches both literatures and offers a more holistic perspective on [Phenomenon C]."

Template 4: Conceptual Clarification

"The concept of [Concept X] is widely used in [Field Y], yet its precise meaning and underlying dimensions remain conceptually ambiguous/underspecified. This paper clarifies [Concept X] by distinguishing between [Dimension A] and [Dimension B], and theorizing their distinct antecedents and consequences for [Outcome Z]. Our conceptualization offers greater precision for researchers and practitioners, enabling more rigorous measurement and theoretical development within [Field Y]."

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Key Elements of a Strong Contribution Statement:

• Specificity: Avoid vague claims. Be precise about what you're contributing and how.


• Originality: Clearly distinguish your work from existing literature. What's genuinely new?


• Relevance: Explain why your contribution matters to your field and potentially beyond. What problem does it solve or insight does it offer?


• Clarity: Use direct, unambiguous language. Avoid jargon where simpler terms suffice, or clearly define any new terms.


• Scope: Briefly indicate the boundaries or applicability of your theory/argument.

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Where to Place Your Contribution Statement:

• Abstract: A concise, powerful version should be here.


• Introduction (especially the last paragraph/section): This is where you lay out your argument and its significance early on.


• Literature Review/Theoretical Background (after identifying the gap): Before presenting your own theory, reiterate the gap you're filling.


• Discussion/Conclusion: Reiterate your contribution, its implications, and future research directions.

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Example (Generic):

Let's imagine a paper in organizational studies, focusing on "employee engagement."

Initial Problem/Gap: "Existing theories of employee engagement primarily focus on individual psychological states, overlooking the dynamic, socially constructed nature of engagement in teams."

Unique Insight/Argument: "We propose a relational theory of team engagement, arguing that engagement is not merely an individual attribute but an emergent property of team interactions and shared meaning-making processes."

How/Why: "This theory posits that team engagement is cultivated through specific collective sensemaking activities (e.g., shared interpretation of tasks, emotional contagion, joint problem-solving) that foster interdependent commitment among team members. Unlike individual-centric models, our relational theory accounts for how engagement fluctuates and is co-created within team contexts, offering a more dynamic and ecologically valid understanding. This allows for new research avenues into how leaders can design and facilitate team interactions to build collective commitment, rather than solely focusing on individual incentives."

Combined Contribution Statement:

"While prominent theories of employee engagement primarily conceptualize it as an individual psychological state, they fall short in explaining the dynamic, socially constructed nature of engagement within teams. This paper addresses this critical gap by developing a relational theory of team engagement, which posits that engagement is an emergent property cultivated through collective sensemaking activities and sustained by interdependent commitment among team members. By shifting the focus from individual cognitions to dynamic social processes, our theory offers a more ecologically valid and comprehensive understanding of how engagement is co-created in team settings, providing novel avenues for research on team design and leadership interventions aimed at fostering collective rather than merely individual commitment."

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To help me tailor this even more specifically, tell me a little bit about:

• Your general field or discipline (e.g., sociology, management, philosophy, education, political science).


• The broad topic your paper addresses (e.g., leadership, climate change, identity, learning, power).


• A very rough idea of the "problem" or "gap" you've identified in the literature.


• A preliminary thought on your "solution" or "new idea."