Building up a Theoretical Paradigm

Abstract

Chapter 2 of this dissertation introduces the theoretical paradigm for the analysis of crisis response strategies in the empirical part. If this study is to provide a meaningful contribution to the theory of crisis communication, it has to meet several criteria proposed by Feldman (2004: 565-567): a) ask research questions that are non-trivial, that is those with an a priori reason to study them; b) may be either theory-driven or phenomenondriven depending on the knowledge development needs of the literature; c) go beyond the synthesis of previous research to provide new insights, critiques, or directions for theory testing and; d) postulate distinctions that make a difference.