The article “What Theory is Not, Theorizing is” by Weick dwells on the topic of producing theories and theorizing. Basically, the author refers to some of the theories produced in various researches as a result of insufficient determination and effort put into a study. The author brings up five components that may form both proper and “half-baked” studies: references, data, lists, diagrams, and hypotheses. The author then notes that – based solely on the presence of these components – it is impossible to determine whether a theory is developed enough or produced in a rash and incompetent manner. The author also briefly notices that there is a difference between theory and theorizing that every author should understand. The author then proceeds to state that most researches that derive a particular theory are, in fact, only providing an approximation of what a theory should be. However, it is noticed that these may result in further studies to broaden the theoretical base and result in various improvements.
The main point that the author provides is that the five mentioned components of an article must not be viewed as excessive or insufficient. It is stated that these elements are a means to an end and must serve to provide a milestone for some theory’s development. However, these components are often viewed as something unneeded, and they are often equated to a theorizing process itself. This results in misunderstandings and misinterpretation of the information provided by some publications. If the approach to evaluating these elements is altered, the scientific literature base may be improved. The scientific community, in turn, may change its approach to understanding the theorizing process as well as provide a more precise evaluation of various publications.