38. Conceptual Reactor

The BIM Framework Conceptual Reactor v1.0

The BIM Framework Conceptual Reactor explains how existing conceptual constructs – terms, classifications, taxonomies, models and frameworks – are used to identify, explain and test new constructs.

The conceptual reactor thus allows the BIM framework to be continuously extended according to evolved research aims and objectives – represented as input 1 (or ‘in1‘). By integrating existing conceptual structures (in2) with new knowledge gained through literature reviews, and data collection (in3), the reactor can then generate new conceptual structures (output or ‘out’) after passing through an iterative, three-stage theory-building process. This process has been identified by J. Meredith (1993) (J. R. Meredith, Raturi, Amoako-Gyampah, & Kaplan, 1989) and includes three repetitive stages – description, explanation and testing:

• First, the Description Stage develops a description of reality; identifies phenomena; explores events; and documents findings and behaviours;
• Second, the Explanation Stage builds upon descriptions to infer a concept, a conceptual relationship or a construct; and then, develops a framework or a theory to explain and/or predict behaviours or events. In essence, the explaining stage develops a testable theoretical proposition which clarifies what has previously been described; and
• Third, the Testing Stage inspects explanations and propositions for validity; tests concepts or their relationships for accuracy; and tests predictions against new observables.