New Episode Alert: “Making Theory Contributions Clear: Martin Kilduff on Philosophy of Science and Scholarship”
In this episode of The Epistemic Alchemy Podcast, Dr Mohammed Raei sits down with Dr Martin Kilduff (Professor of Organizations & Innovation, UCL School of Management) to unpack a crucial question for researchers: How do we articulate theory contributions with clarity and rigor?
Kilduff draws on his background teaching a doctoral class in the philosophy of science and introduces a framework of four distinct approaches—empiricism, strong-paradigm advocacy, instrumentalism, and realism—examined across two dimensions: truth claims and the representativeness of theoretical terms.
Together, they explore the strengths and limitations of each approach, reflect on the rising influence of big-data research (and what that means for theory contribution), and offer actionable advice for early-career scholars—such as the famous “three-paragraph rule” from Jay Barney for articulating contributions.
The episode also broadens the conversation to transdisciplinary and boundary-spanning research: the promise of new insights, and the perils of leaving your disciplinary comfort zone.
👉 Whether you’re a doctoral student, early-career researcher, or seasoned academic, this conversation offers conceptual clarity and pragmatic insights for why your work matters—and how to make sure others see that too.
Listen now: Episode Link
Let us know what resonated most—and what you’d like to explore next.