Qualitative methods focus on providing a rich and deep account of a phenomenon. Qualitative research methods can as varied and diverse as quantitative research. The particular strength of qualitative methods is arguably to provide an accurate understanding of the causes that drive a phenomenon. As a result, our ability to gain deep insight, induce causality and especially new theory from these methods is often much higher than with quantitative methods. Business Schools, however, typically provide much less training in qualitative than in quantitative methods. That?s why it is important to disseminate more widely how to do first rate qualitative research that will by publishable in leading management journals.
Based on the success of last?s years PDW which drew about 160 people, we are proposing this PDW to go further in exploring how to do first rate qualitative research. We have asked the panelists to build on last year?s PDW and offer additional insights into the key research approaches and how to carry out qualitative research in a competent way. We have also asked the panelists to discuss strategies for presenting qualitative research effectively.
Our panel consists of six members. Each was selected for the unique insight they can contribute on the various qualitative research designs, methodologies and/or tools or for their insight on inducing theory or publishing qualitative research.
The first four presenters will present an overview of key qualitative research methods.
Karl Weick (Michigan) is one of the most creative organization behavior scholars alive. Many of his influential theoretical ideas (the double interact, sensemaking, loosely-coupled systems, etc.) have been developed from qualitative materials that are derived from such diverse sources as non-fiction books (The Mann Gulch Disaster), participant observation (Flight Deck Studies) and interviews. Having frequently written on the developments in the management field, he will talk about what he perceives to be the task of a management scholar and what role qualitative methodologies can play in management research.
Nicolaj Siggelkow (Wharton-U. of Pennsylvania) will discuss the use of archival data from one powerful case study to advance theory in a meaningful way.
Kathy Eisenhardt (Stanford) has written extensively about how to induce theory from case studies. She will highlight key methodological steps in inducing theory from multiple case studies.
Mauro Guillen (Wharton-U. of Pennsylvania) will discuss the comparative historical method using his award winning research on the spread of management ideas and the globalization of organizational principles.
The next two presenters, Sara Rynes (Editor of AMJ) and John Wagner (Associate Editor of ASQ) will provide editors? perspectives on qualitative research. They will discuss strategies for getting qualitative research published in their respective journals and will identify what pitfalls to avoid.
At the completion of each panelist’s presentation we will allocate time for audience members to ask questions regarding that specific presentation. Then, at the end of all the presentations, we will allocate more time to open the discussion to the entire audience. Finally, we invite those who want to meet with individual panelists to stay for breakout sessions run by each panelist on their specific areas of expertise.
Diana Day and J. Peter Murmann will facilitate the session.