Legitimizing diverse uses for qualitative research
- Author(s)
- Catherine Welch, Emmanuella Plakoyiannaki, Rebecca Piekkari, Eriikka Paavilainen-Mäntymäki
- Abstract
This paper examines how management researchers rhetorically construct the theoretical purpose and contribution of qualitative studies. By means of a rhetorical analysis of qualitative studies published in the Academy of Management Journal and Journal of Management Studies, we identify three sets of rhetorical practices, or repertoires, in the period 1999-2011. These repertoires differ with regard to how they position and legitimize the use of qualitative research. The first repertoire, which we label 'modernist', bases the legitimacy of qualitative research on its exploratory and theory-building strengths. The second 'revisionist' repertoire accepts key assumptions of modernism, but allows for an expanded role for qualitative research. In contrast, the third 'subversive' repertoire is non-positivist and rejects the traditional theory-building/-testing dichotomy. Using the insights from our 'rhetoric of science' approach, we argue for the use of alternative repertoires that decouple qualitative research from the rhetoric of exploration.
- Organisation(s)
- External organisation(s)
- The University of Sydney, Aalto University, University of Turku, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
- Journal
- International Journal of Management Reviews
- Volume
- 15
- Pages
- 245-264
- No. of pages
- 20
- ISSN
- 1460-8545
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1111/ijmr.12001
- Publication date
- 04-2013
- Peer reviewed
- Yes
- Austrian Fields of Science 2012
- 502016 SME-research
- Keywords
- ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Decision Sciences(all), Strategy and Management, Management of Technology and Innovation
- Portal url
- https://ucris.univie.ac.at/portal/en/publications/legitimizing-diverse-uses-for-qualitative-research(9befa9da-7636-413c-a1fd-9e36d95912f0).html