to make high quality tests of explanations, we need to make high-quality validated measures for them. The time we spend broadly exploring
innovative designs takes resources away from building these validated measures

Design goals undermine explanation goals. 

when we pursue deeper theoretical explanations, we tend to limit our design exploration.

Explanation goals undermine design goals

may create tensions between breadth and depth that limit our impact in both pursuits.

New York University

 if not used carefully, it can inhibit progress in subtle but important ways

Use of Theory

Nelson, G. L., &amp; Ko, A. J. (2018). On use of theory in Computing Education Research. Proceedings of the 2018 ACM Conference on International Computing Education Research. https://doi.org/10.1145/3230977.3230992 

On Use of Theory in Computing Education Research

How Theory Can Inhibit Design Progress

may overlook the need for domain-specific theory about the content of
computing that is so critical to accelerating design progress.

By using theory as a critical lens in peer review of designs, we may create a publication bias that inhibits both theory evaluation and our search for better designs.

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