title: Heuristic value of eclecticism in theory development: the case of Piagetian-Vygotskian dialogue about proportional reasoning.
abstract: Køppe's proposition of four layers in theoretical building are used here in the exploration of a specific case of eclectic combination, the use of Piagetian and Vygotskian general approaches to the analysis of proportional reasoning as a cognitive mathematical ability. It is proposed here that the eclectic consideration of these contributions depends on the consideration of their specificity, in the sense that they highlight different aspects of the phenomenon under scrutiny, and also on the consideration of the coherence between this eclectic convergence and premises in terms of schools of thought under which each contribution is framed. We conclude proposing in accordance to S. Køppe's proposal that eclecticism can be valuable and heuristic in theory development, but this contribution will depend largely on the effort in establishing careful relations between the four layers of theory-building.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil. falcao.jorge@gmail.com
authors.forename: Jorge Tarcísio Da Rocha
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Falcão
authors.forename: Izabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hazin
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D003071:Cognition; D003210:Concept Formation; D006801:Humans; D019359:Knowledge; D055641:Mathematical Concepts; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010684:Philosophy; D011340:Problem Solving; D011582:Psychological Theory; D002666:Psychology, Child
references.citation: Integr Psychol Behav Sci. 2012 Mar;46(1):1-19
references.pmid: 21695392