Research Design in Qualitative Methods

09CMR15150

Faculty: Alfons Sauquet Rovira

Credits: 3

ECTS Credits: 3

Objectives:

Conducting research in management can be undertaken under different premises. One of the most long standing controversy takes place when quantitative and qualitative methods are contrasted. The former seem to reflect methods traditionally used in the natural sciences whereas qualitative methods have been considered more akin to social sciences. Furthermore, the epistemological divide between those pursuing research, broadly speaking, under neopositivistic assumptions seem to be more aligned with quantitative approaches whereas qualitative methods have been associated with research developed under more interpretive stances.The course aims to clarify some of the misunderstandings embedded in this standpoint. Secondly, the course aims to provide an overview of the different ways of conducting research that are commonly grouped under the qualitative stream. Etnography, Hermeneutics, Narratives, etc are to be discussed here. Furthermore, different data collection methods such as interviews, observation and more comprehensive methods such as case studies will be revised in detail. Alongside, data analysis and codification methods will be discussed in depth. Thirdly, based on the previous knowledge, the course will provide a framework to develop a coherent qualitative research design. It is one of the goals of the course that the student becomes familiar with the structure of a research and that it is able to evaluate different approaches to it as well as to produce one.

Summary:

The course will start with an introduction to research debate based on recent work by S. Goshal, h. Mintzberg and J. Pfeffer to place the research debate in management sciences. The work of Gibbons and colleagues on “Modes of Knowledge” will be also discussed as well as Lincoln and Guba classical paradigm classification. Some of the authors and themes which will receive due attention during the course are: A. A. Van de Ven and A. Pettigrew (mostly on longitudinal Research) B. John Van Maanen (on ethnography and representation, particularly 'Tales from the field') C. J. Pfeffer (On paradigms) D. S.Barley and Gideon Kunda (on ethnography and theoretical implications) E. K. Weick's work on secondary sources (e.g. McLean's work on Men against fire) F. Other authors to be discussed are recent research examples such as the works of M. Feldman, W. Orlikowski

Methodology:

The student is supposed to actively engage in debate during the classes. A list of required readings will be distributed at the beginning of the course with specific weekly reading assignments. Other requirements are a mid term paper and a final hand in of a research design. Minor assignments during the course will be appropriately announced among these: interview conducting and codification. By the end of the course the student is supposed to participate meaningfully in the research debate, be familiar with the assumptions of different approaches to conduct research in the qualitative area and to have acquired the necessary knowledge and know how to start designing and conducting research.

Assessment:

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Timetable: Every Tuesday from 12/01/10 to 02/02/10 From 09:00 h. to 12:00 h. Every Thursday from 14/01/10 to 28/01/10 From 09:00 h. to 12:00 h. Exam 04/02/10 . At 09:00 h.