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CHAPTER 4

MANAGEMENT RESEARCH Third Edition, 2008 Prof. M. Easterby-Smith, Prof. R. Thorpe, Prof. Paul R. Jackson. CHAPTER 4. The Philosophy of Management Research. Learning Objectives.

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CHAPTER 4

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  1. MANAGEMENT RESEARCH Third Edition, 2008 Prof. M. Easterby-Smith, Prof. R. Thorpe, Prof. Paul R. Jackson CHAPTER 4 The Philosophy of Management Research

  2. Learning Objectives • To understand the different philosophical assumptions ‘hidden’ beneath management research and to appreciate the strengths and weaknesses of each. • To appreciate how different philosophical assumptions influence criteria we use to judge research quality. • To be able to locate one’s own philosophical position.

  3. Ontology • A Researcher’s Ontology refers to: His/Her Philosophical Assumptions about the Nature of Reality.

  4. The Main Ontological Positions in Management Research • Representationalism – whether or not phenomena are concrete, it is only possible to gather indirect evidence of what is going on in fundamental physical processes (Putnam, 1987), i.e., reality can be observed & measured. • Relativism – different observers may have different viewpoints: ‘what counts for the truth can vary from place to place and from time to time’ (Collins, 1983: 88). • Nominalism – it is the labels and names we attach to experiences and events which are crucial.

  5. Epistemology • A Researcher’s Epistemology is a result of his/her Ontological Position and refers to: His/Her Assumptions about the Best Ways of Inquiring into the Nature of the World and Establishing ‘Truth’.

  6. The Main Epistemological Positions in Management Research • Positivism – is linked to a Representationalist ontology and aims to measure the world through experiments • Relativism – is linked to a Relativist ontology and aims to expose correlations in the world through triangulation • Social Constructionism – is linked to a Nominalist ontology and aims to understand the meaning of happenings in the world

  7. Ontology & Epistemology

  8. Epistemology & Methodology • A particular Epistemology usually leads the researcher to a Methodology that is characteristic of that position. • Conversely, where a given Range of Methods is employed in a particular study it is possible to infer that the researcher holds, perhaps implicitly, a corresponding Epistemology.

  9. Methodological Implications of Different Epistemologies

  10. Strengths & Weaknesses of the Main Traditions

  11. Other Philosophies • There are a number of other philosophical positions which have been represented as coherent schools of thought, and as with the others to a greater or lesser extent, exclude other positions: • Critical theory • Feminism • Hermeneutics • Postmodernism • Pragmatism • Structuration theory

  12. Further Reading • Blaikie, N. (1993) Approaches to Social Enquiry. Cambridge: Polity Press. • Hassard, J. and Parker, M. (eds) (1993) Postmodernism and Organizations. London: Sage. • Sayer, A. (2000) Realism and Social Science. London: Sage

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