A Paradigm Too Far? A Dynamic Stability Reconsideration of the Social Network Research Program, The Academy of Management Review

Instead of paradigmatic unity, we call for progressive theory development from a set of core concepts (Lakatos, 1970) comprising primacy of relations, ubiquity of embed-dedness, social utility of connections, and structural patterning of social life. Orga-nizational network research can capture complexity and distinctiveness of individu-als and networks in terms of mutual constitution and change. The goal is not to delineate small puzzles whose outcomes are predetermined but to signal bold ideas concerning new phenomena. Many social network researchers celebrate the puzzle-solving nature of their field, use “par-adigm ” as a mark of approval, and advance claims that network research has achieved the status of a self-contained school with its own theories and methods. Indeed, it is hard to find any other area of social science that makes such consistent claims for paradigmatic coherenc