Qualitative Research Methods and Reflexive Research Design

LecturerProf. Dan Kärreman PhD
Copenhagen Business School
Date16.06.2022, 9:00-12:00 and 13:00-16:00
17.06.2022, 9:00-12:00
Room/Adress TU Dresden
Faculty of Business and Economics
Seminar contentIn principle, there are two major routes to producing credible research texts. One is to follow rules and procedures indicating rationality. The other is to reflexively deal with the interpretive, political, linguistic, theory-data fused nature of the research process. Both routes will be covered in the workshop, but particular focus will be paid to the reflexive route. Awareness of the various elements influencing the research process and the research results is seen as crucial. Reflexivity emphasizes these aspects and tries to develop ideas for how to avoid traps and pitfalls in the process and how to deal creatively with the various elements in the research process. The ambition is to produce more interesting and unexpected research results through re-thinking conventions and open up for more varied and challenging uses of research questions, fieldwork practices, modes of interpretations and styles of writing.
Workshop outline 2 day program, consisting of 6 sessions, with both teaching and interactive material.
Day 1. Qualitative methods
  • Part 1 Qualitative methods and the intellectualization of methods
  • Part 2 Data-oriented methods (grounded theory, ethnomethodology, ethnography)
  • Part 3 Hermeneutics and interpretation

Day 2. Reflexivity and mystery as method
  • Part 4 Mystery as method
  • Part 5 Critical inquiry
  • Part 6 Q&A
Literature
  • (Alvesson & Sköldberg: (2017) Reflexive Methodology. Sage,)
  • Alvesson, M. & D. Kärreman (2007) Constructing mystery: empirical matters in theory development. Academy of Management Review 32, 1265-1281
  • Alvesson, M. & J. Sandberg 2011. Generating research questions through problematization, Academy of Management Review, Vol. 36, No. 2, pp. 247-271.
  • Bartunek, J. M., Rynes, S. L., & Ireland, D. R. (2006). What makes management research interesting, and why does it matter? Academy of Management Journal, 49: 9–15.
  • Gioia, D. A., Corley, K. G., & Hamilton, A. L. (2013). Seeking qualitative rigor in inductive research: Notes on the Gioia methodology. Organizational research methods, 16(1), 15-31.
  • Davis (1971). That’s interesting. Philosophy of the Social Sciences, 1: 309–344.
  • Kärreman, D. (Forthcoming). Critical Inquiry: Power and language in organization and management studies. In Handbook of philosophy of management (eds. M. Reihlen & D. Schöneborn). Springer, Springer Nature.
CertificatePh.D. students from the Faculty of Economics, TU Dresden can earn a certificate according to § 9 of the Ph.D. doctoral regulations (PromO 2018):
Ph.D. students of Business Management: § 9 (1) Nr. 5 or 6
Ph.D. students of Business Information Systems: § 9 (1) Nr. 6
Ph.D. students of Economics: § 9 (1) Nr. 6

Ph.D. students from other universities can earn a certificate as well.
AssignmentFull credit requirement: Short paper that links the course content to the ph d candidate’s project
RegistrationParticipation is limited (max. 20). 
To register send an e-mail to Dr. Uta Schwarz: uta.schwarz@tu-dresden.de
Phone: +49 351 463-33141