The Project
Aims,
Design and Outcomes
AIMS
The overall aim of the project is to enhance good practice in the use of qualitative
methods in management research. If management researchers, practitioners
and policy makers are to make the most of the range of qualitative methodological
approaches available they need to be aware of their existence; know their
relevance to a variety of research questions and how to use them; and be
able to evaluate qualitative research using appropriate criteria. The training
and dissemination to be developed in this project is designed to address
these issues through increasing knowledge and encouraging a critical and
reflexive approach to research. In order to pursue this goal effectively,
we are exploring existing perspectives on: the utility of qualitative methods;
problems in their application; and appropriate assessment criteria.
The specific objectives are to:
• Conduct a systematic investigation into current perceptions of qualitative
methods in management research, including perceived barriers to their use;
• Identify perceptions of good practice in conducting qualitative management
research;
• Ascertain perceptions of skill deficits in this area and the factors
viewed as contributing to these deficits;
• Develop materials and training workshops to encourage informed and reflexive
practice in qualitative management research;
• Develop an appropriate, specific and accessible set of benchmarking criteria
for assessing qualitative management research, which takes into account variations
in perceptions of good practice.
RESEARCH
DESIGN
Data collection
During the first year we are conducting research via a series of expert panels
focussing on what people see as good practice in the use of qualitative methods;
and what training needs they identify in this area. This research consists
of 45 interviews conducted by the researcher and the grant holders and focuses
on four expert panels.
Panel A: Academic disseminators. The panel includes international academics,
journal editors; members of professional associations.
Panel B: Industrial panel. This panel includes those from both the public and
private sector who conduct and use qualitative research.
Panel C: Doctoral panel. Those who currently run university PhD programmes.
Panel D: Qualitative researchers panel. This panel includes those who have
published within the area of qualitative methods in management research; or
who use qualitative methods regularly as part of their substantive research.
Semi-structured interviews have been conducted focusing on the following issues:
• Interviewees understanding of ‘qualitative research’
• The purpose of qualitative and quantitative research
• Defining characteristics of management research
•
What constitutes ‘good’ qualitative research and how this can be
judged
• The relevance and status of qualitative research within a management
discipline and in practice
• What skills and knowledge people might need to carry out and evaluate
qualitative management research
• How the quality and profile of qualitative management research can be
improved.
Data analysis
Analysis of primary and secondary data is taking place throughout the project
and will be used to inform each stage, culminating in the production of an
interim report, on the use and status of qualitative methods within the management
research arena. Panel members will be invited to comment and provide feedback
on the draft report, before publication and circulation to all stakeholder
groups and a wider audience.
OUTCOMES
During the second year of the project, emphasis will be on developing the
research results from year one into practical outputs, including:
A resource pack will be developed to provide a set of guidelines for good practice.
These will focus on issues such as making sense of the underlying epistemological
and ontological approaches behind the use of various qualitative methods; criteria
for evaluating the quality of qualitative research; resources for qualitative
data analysis; reading lists; choosing an appropriate form of data analysis;
details of software for qualitative data analysis. The aim is to provide a
pack that will be useful to a wide range of stakeholder groups, including those
who currently train doctoral students, researchers using qualitative methods
in management research, and government social researchers. This will enable
the output of the research to be delivered through existing management research
training.
The website will be developed further during the second year of the project
providing a dissemination forum for much of the material generated. It is
also hoped that the website will be used to provide continuous support through
the establishment of a network of qualitative management researchers and
discussion groups.
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