Doing and publishing qualitative research

Prepared by Marlei Pozzebon

The goal is to discuss theory/research-design fit, what constitute a theoretical contribution and to
develop a clear appreciation of how to achieve coherence among three domains of high quality
research (substantive, theoretical and methodological domains). We will draw methodological
guidelines and criteria for doing, publishing and evaluating qualitative research and conclude
with elements to be considered in publishing qualitative research in international journals.
An important part of the seminary will be committed with the understanding in practice of how
to apply different qualitative methods of data analysis. The seminar will offer the students the
opportunity to learn in practice how to select and use different techniques of data analysis and
the related strategies for theorizing.
Course outline
Introduction:
o Ontological and epistemological assumptions of different research traditions
o Fitting theory and research design: the three building blocks of a coherent research
Overview of qualitative research methods:
o Understanding the fundamentals of qualitative inquiry
o The influence of literature review on the research design
o Positioning the contribution
o The role of theory: inductive, deductive and mixed approaches
o The quest for a conceptual framework or not.
Qualitative research methods
o Designing a qualitative research inquiry: case study
o Building a rigorous research protocol - collecting and organizing empirical material
o Four templates for qualitative analysis
o Overview of recurrent methods: ethnography, research-action, grounded theory.
o Theorizing strategies
Criteria for high quality research
o Different criteria for different research traditions
o International journals standards
Language: Portuguese (material in English)
Seminary / assessment:
60% class participation
o 20% participation in each class
o 20% round table 1
o 20% round table 2
40% term work
Calendar: From 20 to 31 July

Prepared by Marlei Pozzebon

Date
S1

20/07/2015

[1]; [2]

Fitting theory and research design: the three building

blocks of a coherent research

See
assignment

Overview of qualitative research methods:

Understanding the fundamentals of qualitative inquiry
The influence of literature review on the research design
Positioning the contribution
The role of theory: inductive, deductive and mixed
approaches

[3]; [8]

The quest for a conceptual framework or not.

Qualitative research methods
Understanding case study - Round table 1

[5]; [6]

[14]

14h00 18h00

Qualitative research methods

Understanding case study - Round table 1

27/07/2015

Individual work building a research proposal

21/07/2015
14h00 18h00

S3

22/07/2015
14h00 18h00

S4

23/07/2015
14h00 18h00

S5

S6

Readings

Introduction: Ontological and epistemological

assumptions of different research traditions

14h00 18h00
S2

Subject

24/07/2015

14h00 18h00
S7

28/07/2015
14h00 18h00

S8

29/07/2015

Building theories from process data

Building a research protocol - collecting and organizing
empirical material

[4]; [15]

Four templates for qualitative analysis

[7]; [13]

Overview of recurrent research methods: ethnography,

grounded theory, CDA
Criteria for high quality research
Different criteria for different research traditions

[9]; [17]

National and international journals standards

Round table 2

[12]; [10];
[11]

14h00 18h00
S9

30/07/2015
14h00 18h00

S10 31/07/2015
14h00 18h00

Assignment for the second class:

Select a journal (national or international) where you would like to publish an article
Select a qualitative paper related to your research interests - published in the selected
journal

Prepared by Marlei Pozzebon

Basic readings for the seminary*:

1. Van Maanen, J. (1979) Reclaiming Qualitative Methods for Organizational Research: A
Preface. Administrative Science Quarterly, 24: 520-524.
2. Gephart, R. (1999) Paradigms and Research Methods. Research Methods Forum, 4
(Introductory paper) + Guba, E. & Lincoln, Y.S., Competing paradigms in qualitative
research, in Handbook of Qualitative Research, par Denzin, N. K., 1994, (105-117)
(Advanced paper).
3. Webster, J. and Watson, R.T. Analyzing the Past to Prepare for the Future: Writing a
Literature Review, MIS Quarterly, (26:2), 2002, R13-23.
4. Langley, A. (1999) Strategies for Theorizing from Process Data, The Academy of
Management Review, (24:4), pp. 691-711.
5. Eisenhardt, K., Building Theory from Case Study Research, Academy of Management
Review, 14 (4), 1989, p. 532-550.
6. Stake, R.E. (1998). Case Studies. In: Strategies of Qualitative Inquiry by Denzin, N.K. and
Lincoln, Y.S. (Eds.). Sage Publications, California. 445-454.
7. Langley, A and Abdallah, C. (2011). Templates and turns in qualitative studies of strategy
and management In: Building Methodological Bridges Research Methods in Strategy and
Management, Volume 6, pages 105-140.
8. Whetten, D.A. (1989) What Constitutes a Theoretical Contribution? Academy of
Management Review, vol. 14, no. 4, 490-495.
9. Pozzebon, M., Rodriguez, C. and Petrini, M. (2014). Dialogical principles for qualitative
research: a nonfoundational path. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, vol. 3, 293317.
* These basic readings were selected from management and organization studies literature.
Additional reading from public administration will be added.
Complementary readings:
10. Barley, S. (2006) When I Write My Masterpiece: Thoughts on What Makes a Paper
Interesting, Academy of Management Journal, 49(1): 16-20.
11. Shah, S.K. et Corley, K.G. "Building better theory by bridging the quantitative-qualitative
divide" Journal of Management Studies, 43(8), 2006, (1821-1835).
12. Rynes, S. & Gephart, R.P. (2004). Qualitative research and the AOM. Academy of
Management Journal , 47(4), 454-462.
13. Hoepfl, M.C. (1997) Chosing Qualitaive Research: a Primer for Technology Education
Researchers. Journal of Technological Education. 9(1).
14. Dyer, W. G. and A. L. Wilkins, Better Stories, Not Better Constructs, to Generate Better
Theory: A rejoinder to Eisenhardt, Academy of Management Journal, 1991, vol. 16, no 3, p.
613-627.
15. Barley, S.R. Technology as an Occasion for Structuring: Evidence from Observation of CT
Scanners and the Social Order of Radiology Departments, Administrative Science
Quarterly, (31), 1986, pp. 78-108.
16. Gregor, S. (2006) The nature of theory in Information Systems. MIS Quarterly, Vol. 30 No.
3. pp. 611-642.
17. Dub, L. & G. Par, Rigor in IS Positivist Case Research: Currents Practices, Trends, and
Recommendations , MIS Quarterly, 27, 4 (2003). ISSN 0276-7783

Prepared by Marlei Pozzebon

Qualitative research: Fundamental books

Miles, M.B., and Huberman, A.M. (1984) Qualitative Data Analysis: a Sourcebook of New
Methods, Sage, Newbury Park, CA.
Patton, M.Q. (2002) Qualitative Evaluation and Research Methods. California: Sage
Publications.
Prasad, Pushkala (2005) Crafting Qualitative Research. M.E. Sharpe. New York, 340 pages.
Yin, Robert K. (2008) Case Study Research, Design and Methods, 4th edition, Sage
Publications, London, 2008, 240 pp.
Berg, B.L. (2001). Qualitative Research Methods for the Social Sciences. Massachusetts:
Allyn & Bacon.
Denzin, N.K. and Lincoln, Y.S. (1994). Handbook of Qualitative Research. Sage
Publications, California.
Glesne, C. (1999) Becoming Qualitative Researchers. New York: Longman.
Mason, J. (1997). Qualitative Researching. London: Sage Publications.
Creswell, J.W. (2013). Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design. Third Edition, Sage.
London.

Prepared by Marlei Pozzebon