5TH AACHEN INTERNATIONAL SUMMER SCHOOL IN RESEARCH METHODS AND DATA SCIENCE (ACISS) INTRODUCTION TO QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS Léo-Paul Dana, BA, MBA, PhD School of Business and Economics TIME Research Area Contact: professordana@gmail.com

SUMMER 2019

COURSE OVERVIEW

Course Name: Qualitative Research Methods Degree Programmes: 1. Post-Docs and PhD students

2. Master BWL (all specializations): MSBWL10, MSBWL13 Master Wirtschaftswissenschaften (all specializations): MSWiWi10, MSWiWi14 Master Wirt.-Ing. (MSWiBau, MSWiEET, MSWiWPT, MSWiMB, all specializations): MSWI10, MSWI15

Lecturer: Léo-Paul Dana, PhD Contact: professordana@gmail.com Location and Time: Kackertstraße 7, Room B037

16 September to 20 September, 9am-12pm and 1pm-4pm Content Description: This course will focus on core principles and practices of

qualitative research. Bherer, Gagnon and Roberge (1989) explained that exploratory research in developing fields requires more specialised instrumentation and different strategy than classical research of phenomena in familiar domains. Whereas quantitative methods are often the means to identify causal variables of “why” questions, the richness of answers to “how” questions may be best discovered with qualitative tools, including (i) case study; (ii) critical incident; and (iii) ethnography. Ethnographically-derived data being rich in qualitative detail, a parametric distribution is therefore not necessary; nor is statistical manipulation. Preaching induction, this is an alternative to the traditional hypothetico-deductive approach; the result is a deeper holistic understanding. Such methodology, because of the interaction between researcher and subject, also reduces Type III error (asking the wrong question) and Type IV error (solving the wrong problem). This interactive course may inspire candidates to look beyond deduction, especially those doing exploratory research. Reference: Bherer, H., Gagnon, S. and Roberge, J. (1989), Wampoum et lettres patentes, études exploratoire de l’entrepreneuriat autochtone, L’institut de recherches politiques, Les Presses de l’Université Laval, Quebec City.

Qualification Objectives: Students will learn key concepts for designing a qualitative research study, and collecting and analyzing qualitative data. Students will also learn how to critique and deconstruct qualitative research papers.

Literature: See readings below Course Examination: The final grade will be based on class participation/discussion

(small group and whole group), and presentations. Participation Requirements: Command of English language, basic understanding of social

science research practices, willingness to engage in readings for each class session and discussion of those readings in class, willingness to engage with the ambiguities of qualitative data. The course is specifically designed for Ph.D. students interested in conducting and/or evaluating qualitative academic research studies, but is also open to advanced master students meeting the above criteria.

Group Size: 30 participants (max)

Workload: 30 hours of lecturing and group work 120 hours of additional individual and group preparation

Type of Teaching Event: Lecture with integrated individual and group work Language: English Credits: 5

SCOPE OF THE COURSE

This course provides students with an overview of and experience with qualitative research methods. We will cover such topics as what qualitative research is, qualitative methodologies, benefits and disadvantages of qualitative methodologies, data collection, data analysis methods and how to write a qualitative study convincingly. Although there is a wide variation of qualitative methods available, due to the parameters of the course, we will pay particular attention to a variety of qualitative methodologies including: (i) case study; (ii) critical incident; (iii) ethnography; (iv) field stimulation; and (v) grounded theory approach. As well, we will focus on a few relevant data collection methods, including: (i) the Delphi method; (ii) document analysis; (iii) focus groups; (iv) interviews; and (v) observation and participant observation. The course also provides opportunity to ask questions of particular interest to you. In terms of the in-class experience, each day will be different.

PARTICIPANTS AND REQUIREMENTS

Participants 1. Post-Docs and PhD students 2. Master BWL (all specializations): MSBWL10, MSBWL13

Master Wirtschaftswissenschaften (all specializations): MSWiWi10, MSWiWi14 Master Wirt.-Ing. (MSWiBau, MSWiEET, MSWiWPT, MSWiMB, all specializations): MSWI10, MSWI15

Due to the interactive teaching format, the number of participants is limited to 30. Advanced master students are invited to participate, but preference will be given to PhD students

Requirements Command of English language, basic understanding of social science research practices, willingness to engage in readings for each class session and discussion of those readings in class, willingness to engage with the ambiguities of qualitative data. The course is specifically designed for Ph.D. students interested in conducting and/or evaluating qualitative academic research studies, but is also open to advanced masters’ students meeting the above criteria. Grading

1. Participation: 30% 2. Oral presentation 1: 30% 3. Oral presentation 2: 40%

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

To learn relevant concepts such as: 1. What is qualitative research? 2. What are qualitative methodologies? 3. How are qualitative methodologies different than quantitative methodologies? 4. When are qualitative methodologies useful? 5. What are the benefits of qualitative methodology? 6. What are the disadvantages of qualitative methodologies? 7. What is the difference between research methodology and research methods? 8. What is symbolic interactionism? 9. When is a case study worthy of journal publication? 10. What is ethnography? 11. Explain field stimulation. 12. Discuss the grounded theory approach.

READINGS

A selection of readings -- similar to these below -- will be selected and provided, according to interests of the class Abbott, A. (2004) Methods of Discovery: Heuristics for the Social Sciences, W.W. Norton and

Co., New York and London. Abbott, A. (2007) ‘Against narrative: a preface to lyrical sociology’, Sociological Theory, Vol. 25,

No. 1, pp.67–99. Abell, P. (2004) ‘Narrative explanation: an alternative to variable-centered explanation?’, Annual

Review of Sociology, Vol. 30, pp.287–310. Ahrne, G. and Brunsson, N. (2008) Meta-Organizations, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, UK and

Northampton, Massachusetts. Allison, G. (1969) ‘Conceptual models and the Cuban missile crisis’, The American Political

Science Review, Vol. 63, No. 3, pp.689–718. Ayache, M. and Dumez, H. (2011) ‘Le codage dans la recherche qualitative: une nouvelle

perspective?’, Le Libellio d’Aegis, Vol. 7, No. 2, pp.33–46. Bailey, K. (1994) An Introduction to Classification Techniques, Sage Publications, Thousand

Oaks. Bamford, G. (1993) ‘Popper’s explications of ad hocness: circularity, empirical content, and

scientific practice’, The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science, Vol. 44, No. 2, pp.335–355.

Bergh, A.E. (1905) The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 6, The Jefferson Memorial Association, Washington, DC.

Biggs, M. (2009) ‘Self-fulfilling prophecies’, in Hedström, P. and Bearman, P. (Eds.): The Oxford Handbook of Analytical Sociology, pp.294–314, Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Boudon, R. (1998) ‘Social mechanisms without black boxes’, in Hedström, P. and Swedberg, R. (Eds.): Social Mechanisms. An Analytical Approach to Social Theory, pp.172–203, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Boudon, R. (2006) ‘Bonne et mauvaise abstraction’, L’Année sociologique, Vol. 56, No. 2, pp.263–284.

Braudel, F. (1992) Civilisation and Capitalism 15th–18th Century: Three Volumes, University of California Press, Berkeley CA.

Callon, M. (Ed.) (1998) The Laws of Markets, Basil Blackwell, Oxford. Corbin, J. and Strauss, A. (1990) ‘Grounded theory research: procedures, Canons and

evaluative criteria’, Zeiftchrift fur Soziologie, December, Vol. 19, No. 6, pp.418–427. Crozier, M. (1964) The Bureaucratic Phenomenon, Chicago University Press, Chicago. Crozier, M. (1971) The World of the Office Worker, Chicago University Press, Chicago. Crozier, M. and Friedberg, E. (1981) Actors and Systems: The Politics of Collective Action, Chicago University Press, Chicago. Denzin, N.K. (1989) Interpretive Interactionism, Sage Publications, Newbury Park. DeRose, K. (1992) ‘Contextualism and knowledge attributions’, Philosophy and

Phenomenological Research, Vol. 52, No. 4, pp.913–929. Dessler, D. (1991) ‘Beyond correlations: toward a causal theory of war’, International Studies

Quarterly, Vol. 35, No. 3, pp.337–355. Dubois, A. and Gadde, L.E. (2002) ‘Systematic combining: an abductive approach to case

research’, Journal of Business Research, Vol. 55, No. 7, pp.553–560. Dumez, H. (2006) ‘Why a special issue on methodology: introduction’, European Management

Review, Vol. 3, No. 1, pp.4–6. Dumez, H. (2010) ‘La description: point aveugle de la recherche qualitative’, Le Libellio d’Aegis,

Vol. 6, No. 2, pp.28–43. Dumez, H. and Jeunemaitre, A. (2006) ‘Reviving narratives in economics and management:

towards an integrated perspective of modelling, statistical inference and narratives’, European Management Review, Vol. 3, No. 1, pp.32–43.

Durand, R. and Vaara, E. (2009) ‘Causation, counterfactuals, and competitive advantage’, Strategic Management Journal, Vol. 30, No. 12, pp.1245–1264.

Elman, C. (2005) ‘Explanatory typologies in qualitative studies of international politics’, International Organization, Vol. 59, No. 2, pp.293–326.

Elster, J. (1989) The Cement of Society: A Study of Social Order, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Fassinger, R.E. (2005) ‘Paradigms, praxis, problems, and promise: grounded theory in counseling psychology research’, Journal of Counselling Psychology, Vol. 52, No. 2, pp.156–166.

Foss, N.J., Husted, K. and Michailova, S. (2010) ‘Governing knowledge sharing in organizations: levels of analysis, governance mechanisms, and research directions’, Journal of Management Studies, Vol. 47, No. 3, pp.455–482.

Gambetta, D. (2006) ‘What makes people tip: motivations and predictions’, Le Libellio d’Aegis, Vol. 2, No. 3, pp.2–10. George, A.L. and Bennett, A. (2005) Case Studies and Theory Development in the Social Sciences, MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Gephart, R.P. (2004) ‘Qualitative and the Academy of Management Journal’, Academy of Management Journal, Vol. 47, No. 4, pp.454–462.

Gerring, J. (1999) ‘What makes a concept good? A criterial framework for understanding concept formation in the social sciences’, Polity, Vol. 31, No. 3, pp.357–393.

Gioia, D.A., Corley, K.G. and Hamilton, A.L. (2013) ‘Seeking qualitative rigor in inductive research: notes on the Gioia methodology’, Organizational Research Methods, Vol. 16, No. 1, pp.15–31.

Girin, J. (2011) ‘Empirical analysis of management situations: elements of theory and method’, European Management Review, Vol. 8, No. 4, pp.197–212.

Hall, P. (2006) ‘Systematic process analysis: when and how to use it?’, European Management Review, Vol. 3, No. 1, pp.24–31.

Hassard, J. (1993) Sociology and Organization Theory: Positivism, Paradigms and Postmodernity, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Hedström, P. and Swedberg, R. (Eds.) (1998) Social Mechanisms: An Analytical Approach to Social Theory, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Hunt, S.D. (1991) ‘Positivism and paradigm dominance in consumer research: toward critical pluralism’, Journal of Consumer Research, Vol. 18, No. 1, pp.32–44.

Kelle, U. (2005) ‘‘Emergence’ vs. ‘forcing’ of empirical data? A crucial problem of ‘grounded

theory’ reconsidered’, Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung/Forum: Qualitative Social Research, Art. 27, Vol. 6, No. 2 [online] http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs0502275

Latour, B. (1996) Aramis, or the Love of Technology, Harvard University Press, Cambridge MA. Lecocq, X. (2012) ‘Niveaux d’analyse et réification’, Le libellio d’Aegis, Vol. 8, No. 4, pp.5–11. Lincoln, Y.S., Lynham, S.A. and Guba, E.G. (2011) ‘Paradigmatic controversies, contradictions,

and emerging confluences revisited’, in Denzin, N.K., and Lincoln, Y.S. (Eds.): The Sage Handbook of Qualitative Research, pp.97–128, Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks.

McGregor, S.L.T. and Murnane, J.A. (2010) ‘Paradigm, methodology and method: intellectual integrity in consumer scholarship’, International Journal of Consumer Studies, Vol. 34, No. 4, pp.419–427.

Miles, M.B. and Huberman, M.A. (1994) Qualitative Data Analysis, Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks.

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Popper, K.R. (1972) Objective Knowledge: An Evolutionary Approach, Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Popper, K.R. (1976) ‘The logic of the social sciences’, in Adorno, T.W., Albert, H., Dahrendorf, R., Habermas, J., Pilot, H. and Popper, K.R. (Eds.): The Positivist Dispute in German Sociology, pp.87–104, Harper, New York.

Ragin, C.C. (1999) ‘The distinctiveness of case-oriented research’, Health Services Research, Pt. 2, Vol. 34, No. 5, pp.1137–1151.

COURSE SCHEDULE

16 September to 20 September, 9am-12pm and 1pm-4pm

Contact Details Prof. Léo-Paul Dana, PhD Montpellier Business School Email: professordana@gmail.com