Benchmarking Good Practice in Qualitative Management Research
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This was a two year funded study, based in the UK, investigating the use and evaluation of qualitative research methods in management research. The project was part of a larger Research Methods Programme funded by the ESRC (Economic and Social Research Council), which focused specifically on extending and improving research methods in the research and practitioner communities.
This area of the site provides access to all the main resources, including materials from the project training workshops This provides a custom Google search of the material within the Benchmarking Good Practice in Qualitative Management Research site Links to the overall Research Methods Programme. Links to the funding council website An online dictionary of social science terms TOP | About
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The Project 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: Data collection Panel A: Academic disseminators. The panel includes international academics,
journal editors; members of professional associations. • Interviewees understanding of ‘qualitative research’ Data analysis During the second year of the project, emphasis will be on developing the
research results from year one into practical outputs, including:
Three
workshops will be facilitated to which representatives from each of the
expert panels will be invited. These will provide an opportunity for
participants and panel members to provide feed back from the research about
good practice
and play an active role in the development of the pilot training materials.
The workshop format will be fully documented so that others can use it
as a training activity therefore constituting part of the cascading process. 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. About the People involved. Professor
Catherine Cassell is now Professor of Occupational Psychology at the Manchester Business School. At the time of this project she was Professor of Organizational Psychology at Sheffield University Management School, Sheffield, UK. Her research interests focus on organizational change and development and she has previously held research grants from ERDF, EPSRC and the EU, which have all utilized qualitative methods as part of the research process. A key theme in her research is an interest in the use of qualitative methods in management and organizational research. With Gillian Symon she has co-edited and authored three books in this area published by Sage: 'Qualitative methods in organizational research: a practical guide' (Cassell and Symon, 1994); 'Qualitative methods and analysis in organizational research' (Symon and Cassell, 1998) and 'Essential guide to qualitative methods in organizational research' (in press). They have also organized a number of symposia at both national and international conferences (e.g.: BAM 1996; 2000; BPS 1993; 1997; 2002; IAAP, 2002) where the focus has been the use of qualitative methods in work psychology and management research. Professor.
Phil Johnson is now Professor of International Management and Marketing and Associate Dean for Internationalisation at the University of Sheffield. At the time of this project he was a Principal Lecturer in research methodology/organizational analysis and Research Leader in the Change Management Research Centre at Sheffield Hallam University. He holds degrees in Sociology (BA- Sheffield University), Organization Development (MSc - CNAA), Research Methodology (MSc - Open University) and Management (PhD - CNAA). In recent years he has published in the fields of research methodology, business ethics, manufacturing management, managing change and management control. His contribution to research methodology includes two books published by Sage: 'Research Methods for Managers' (with J.Gill, 1991; 1997; 2002) and Understanding management research: an introduction to epistemology (with J. Duberley, 2001); three chapters in edited books; and 5 refereed journal articles. An ongoing theme in this published material has been the epistemological and ontological dimensions of methodology and their impact upon management research practice. Other recent work has included qualitative research regarding: performance evaluation and control systems in manufacturing sponsored by EPSRC (GR/L03569); and contractor supplier relationships in local authorities sponsored by ESRC (R0002364498). Dr.
Gillian Symon is now a Reader in Organizational Psychology at Birkbeck College, University of London. At the time of this project she was a senior lecturer in the same department. She holds a MA in psychology (University of Edinburgh), MSc in occupational psychology (University of Sheffield) and PhD in organizational psychology. Her research interests lie in the areas of technological change at work and qualitative methods in organizational research. In the first case, recent work has focused on resistance to technological change and user participation. In the second case, in addition to the work on the ESRC project, she has edited or authored (with Catherine Cassell and others) three practical textbooks, a special issue of the European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology and several papers on the theme of qualitative approaches. Current specific interests are in the role of reflexivity in the research process and the rhetorical analysis of texts. She lectures on qualitative approaches to organizational research to postgraduate students and has supervised qualitative PhD and Masters theses. She has experience in providing distance learning courses through computer conferencing, including designing (self-)study materials.
Vicky
Bishop is a lecturer in HRM at the Manchester Business School. She was the full time Research Associate employed on the ESRC 'Benchmarking good practice in management research' project. Vicky completed a PhD in International Business Studies from the University of Loughborough in Leicestershire. She has research interests in the areas of qualitative research methods and is particularly interested in the collection of organisational stories as a research method. Her research interests also extend to the culture of the customer specifically focusing on customer violence in the service industry.
Contact for
enquiries Prof. Catherine Cassell Prof.Phil Johnson Dr Gillian Symon Working Papers Buehring, A., Symon, G., Cassell, C. and Johnson, P. How do we judge qualitative
management research? Exploring quality criteria-in-use. Cassell, C., Bishop, V., Symon, G., Johnson, P. and Buehring, A. Enhancing
the quality of management research through training: The case of qualitative
research. Cassell, C., Symon, G., Johnson, P. and Buehring, A. Defining and benchmarking
quality in qualitative management research. Johnson, P., Buehring, A., Cassell, C. and Symon, G. Evaluating qualitative
management research: Towards a contingent criteriology. Symon, G., Buehring, A., Johnson, P. and Cassell, C. Positioning qualitative
research as resistance in the contemporary academic labour process. Cassell, C., Buehring,
A., Symon, G., Johnson, P. and Bishop, V. Qualitative Management Research:
A Thematic Analysis of Interviews with Stakeholders in
the Field. (In preparation) [more...] [Download PDF 380KB] Conferences Cassell, C., Bishop, V., Symon, G., Johnson, P. and Buehring, A. Enhancing
the quality of management research through training: The case of qualitative
research. British Academy of Management Annual Conference, Oxford, UK, September
2005. Symon, G., Buehring, A., Johnson, P. and Cassell, C. The contemporary academic
labour process, the institutionalisation of research practices and qualitative
research. Critical Management Studies Conference, Cambridge, UK, July, 2005. Cassell, C., Symon, G., Buehring, A. and Johnson, P. Can we ever benchmark
quality? Symon, G., Cassell, C., Buehring, A. and Johnson, P. Assessing quality in
qualitative management research, The State of the Art of Qualitative Social
Research in Europe, Berlin, September, 2004. Cassell, C., Buehring,
A., Symon, G. and Johnson, P. Defining quality in qualitative management
research: the editor’s view, British Academy of Management,
St Andrews, September, 2004. Buehring, A.,
Symon, G., Cassell, C., and Johnson, P. How do we judge qualitative management
research?:
Exploring quality criteria-in-use. AOM Research Methods
Division, “Crossing Frontiers in Quantitative and Qualitative Research
Methods”. Lyon, France, March, 2004. Buehring, A., Cassell, C., Johnson, P., and Symon, G. Benchmarking good practice
in qualitative management research. British Academy of Management Annual
Conference Harrogate. Leeds, UK, September, 2003. Books Gill, J., Johnson, P. (1997) Research
Methods for Managers. Second Edition.
London: Paul Chapman Publishing Gill, J., Johnson, P. (1991) Research
Methods for Managers. London: Paul Chapman
Publishing. Johnson, P., Duberley, J. (2000). Understanding
Management Research: An Epistemological Introduction. London: Sage Publications Symon, G. and Cassell, C. (eds) (1998). Qualitative
Methods and Data Analysis in Organizational Research: A Practical Guide. London: Sage Publications. Qualitative
Research in Organizations and Management: An International Journal.
Editors: Catherine Cassell and Gillian Symon Journal Special Issues Cassell, C., Buehring, A., Johnson, P. and Symon, G. (Guest Editors). Qualitative
methods in management research. Special Issue of Management Decision. [Management
Decision Homepage] Cassell, C.M. (2004) Creating the role of the interviewer, Qualitative
Research. In Press. Johnson, P.D.
and Cassell, C.M. (2001) Epistemology and work psychology: New agendas. Journal
of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 74,125-143 Symon, G., Cassell,
C.M. and Dickson, R. (2000) Expanding our research and practice through innovative
research methods. European Journal of
Work and
Organizational Psychology, 9 (4), 1-6 Johnson, P.D.
and Duberley, J. (1993) Reflexivity and Management Research, Journal
of Management Studies, 40(6), 279-1303. Book Chapters Cassell, C.M. and Symon, G. (2004) Qualitative methods in organizational
research. In C.Humphrey and B. Lee (eds). The real life
guide to accounting research.
Elsevier. Computer Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis (CAQDAS) Networking Project Research Methods Forum UK Data Archive Qualidata – Qualitative
Data Service International Institute for Qualitative Methodology ESRC Research Methods programme The Inter-University Faculty Consortium on Qualitative Research Methods (CQRM) Qualitative Inquiry Research Methods Forum International Journal of Social Research Methods The Qualitative Report Electronic Journal of Business Research Methods Qualitative Social Research Qualitative Research Qualitative Research Journal Online discussion groups/email lists QUAL-SOFTWARE@JISCMAIL.AC.UK Association for Qualitative Research
Training workshops and the Facilitator's guide
• 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.
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 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:
• 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.
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.
TOP | About
the project | Aims | Who we are | Contact
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TOP | About
the project | Aims | Who we are | Contact
Information | Publications | Links
Dr Victoria Bishop
Post-doctoral Research Fellow
People, Management and Organizations Division
Manchester Business School
Manchester University
Booth Street West
Manchester
victoria.bishop@manchester.ac.uk
Professor of Occupational Psychology
People, Management and Organizations Division
Manchester Business School
Booth Street West
Manchester M15 6PB
catherine.cassell@mbs.ac.uk
Head of the HRM/OB Division
The Management School,
The University of Sheffield.
9 Mappin St,
Sheffield
S1 4DT
phil.johnson@sheffield.ac.uk
Lecturer in Organizational Psychology
Department of Organizational psychology
Birkbeck College
University of London
Malet Street
Bloomsbury
London
WC1E 7HX
g.symon@bbk.ac.uk
Project Output: Papers, Reports, Conferences and Related Publications.
Reports
Criteria used to evaluate the quality of qualitative research within the business
and management field. First International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry,
Illinois and Urbana-Champaign, USA, May, 2005.
Related Publications
Johnson, P. and Clark, M. (2005 – in press) Business and Management
Research Methods, 6 Volume Sage Major Work, Sage: London.
Cassell, C. and Symon, G. (2004) (eds). Essential Guide to Qualitative
Methods in Organizational Research. London: Sage Publications
Cassell, C. and Symon, G. (1994) (eds) Qualitative Methods in Organizational
Research: A Practical Guide. London: Sage Publications
New Journal
Publishers: Emerald Publishing.
To be launched in 2006.
Cassell,
C. and Symon, G. (eds.) Beyond positivism and statistics: Neglected
approaches to understanding the experience of work . Special
Issue
of Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology. Call for
Submissions [more..].
Journal Articles
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Academy of Management, In-Depth Discussions and Helpful Tutorials
http://www.aom.pace.edu/rmd/forum.html
http://www.data-archive.ac.uk/
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http://www.ccsr.ac.uk/methods/projects/
http://www.asu.edu/clas/polisci/cqrm/
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http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/tf/13645579.html
http://www.nova.edu/ssss/QR/index.html
http://www.ejbrm.com/
http://qualitative-research.net/
http://www.sagepub.co.uk/journal.aspx?pid=105752
http://www.latrobe.edu.au/aqr/journal/1AQR2003.pdf
QUAL-RESEARCH@JISCMAIL.AC.UK
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