People often confuse “theory” and “model” in organizational and management research, which slows scientific progress. A scientific theory is a strong, well-supported explanation built on extensive converging evidence. It provides reliable knowledge for evidence-based practice and supports education that helps professionals adapt over time. A conceptual model, by contrast, is a preliminary idea that proposes how things might relate; it must be tested, critiqued, and refined. When a model's mechanisms are clearly specified and backed by substantial evidence, it can be recognized as a theory. But models are sometimes mistaken for theories—either because long-used models (like Maslow's hierarchy or Lewin's change model) gain assumed legitimacy through familiarity, or because advocates re-label a model as a theory to enhance credibility without adequate evidence. Distinguishing between theories and models guides two research paths: strengthening established theories and rigorously developing models so their explanatory and predictive power can eventually be tested.
Denise M. Rousseau (Fri,) studied this question.