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Philosophy of Management Research

This chapter explores the different philosophical assumptions underlying management research and discusses their strengths and weaknesses. It explores ontology, epistemology, and methodology, and introduces other philosophies such as critical theory, feminism, hermeneutics, postmodernism, pragmatism, and structuration theory.

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Philosophy of Management Research

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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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