Theories are part and parcel of every human activity that involves knowing about the world and our place in it. In all areas of inquiry from the most commonplace to the most scholarly and esoteric, theorizing plays a fundamental role. The SAGE Encyclopedia of Theory in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics focuses on the ways that various STEM disciplines theorize about their subject matter. How is thinking about the subject organized? What methods are used in moving a novice in given field into the position of a competent student of that subject? Within the pages of this landmark work, readers will learn about the complex decisions that are made when framing a theory, what goes into constructing a powerful theory, why some theories change or fail, how STEM theories reflect socio-historical moments in time and how–at their best–they form the foundations for exploring and unlocking the mysteries of the world around us.

Featuring more than 200 authoritative articles written by experts in their respective fields, the encyclopedia includes a reader’s guide that organizes entries by broad themes; lists of further readings and cross-references that conclude each article; and a resource guide listing classic books in the field, leading journals, associations, and key websites.