Gomory uses a broader definition of theory than that discussed in my articl
e. If by "theory" one means guesses, hypotheses, conjectures, assumptions,
models, and perspectives, then yes, any research endeavor involves theory.
But such an elastic definition of theory causes the concept to lose all sci
entific value, and is at variance with the more common land restrictive) us
e of the term I employed. Many of Gomory's points were tangential to respon
ding directly to the substance of my article, and others simply misrepresen
ted positions made there and in other publications. Gomory agrees with the
major point of my article that forcing doctoral students and others to incl
ude elements of grand theories into dissertation research and program evalu
ation in the absence of genuine integration is a poor practice and should b
e halted. His disagreement with my contention that some (not all) social wo
rk programs are atheoretical, and can tin some instances) be evaluated in a
n atheoretical manner, derives from his looser definition of the term "theo
ry.".