Cluster: Research Methods and Research Practice
The Research Methods and Research Practice (RMRP) is an interdisciplinary grouping that is being formed within the Management School. The RMRP cluster’s aim is to promote understanding of all research methods and their use through critical reflection on both the inherent weaknesses in individual methods and the constraints on research practice residing throughout the entire research process.
The objectives of the RMRP cluster are:
- To provide a forum in which all epistemological and methodological approaches are considered to develop a critical and reflexive understanding of the strengths and limitations of the different research approaches;
- To encourage studies and writings that analyse any aspect of research methods and research practice;
- To promote ethnographic studies of the research process as an important way of enhancing understanding of research practice;
- To facilitate active discussion between all levels of the research community – from research students through all echelons of academic staff to professors – on all aspects of research practice, as a means of facilitating informed choice in the conduct of research.
The Research Methods and Research Practice cluster´s members are:
John is particularly interested in a range of qualitative research methods with a specific interest in action research. John´s work has been influenced by a range of related theoretical frameworks such as institutional theory, structuration theory and evolutionary theory. He also has an interest in the use of empirical qualitative research case studies in teaching.
Phil´s research interests include the use and evaluation of Qualitative Research Methodologies in the Business and Management area. He has also written about the area of epistemology and remains interested in the link between Critical Theory and epistemological arguments for democratization.
John´s research interests lie in action research and systems methods. The focus of John´s research is in innovation systems and methods for organizational problem-solving.
Naoko is interested in the use of qualitative research method for business and accounting studies in a cross-cultural context, with particular reference to Japan. She is currently seeking the ways in which the relationship between researchers and the people they research might develop and the influence that this has on the research process and the nature of research projects.
Stuart is interested in the methodologies used to implement information systems into organisations. He is especially interested in soft systems methodology (SSM) as an approach to doing this. Recently he has been focusing on the use of SSM Mode 2 which takes a more flexible use of this approach. In 1998 he developed his own methodology (OASES) for introducing information systems into organisations. He has used this as a basis for reviewing nationally rolled out information systems and his approach features in his published work.
Tina is interested in the relationship between research norms and methods and the evolution of knowledge within the field of crisis management. At present Tina is reviewing how crisis management has been researched over a 25 year period in order to generate insights into how the methods used both reflect and reinforce perceived norms, limitations and constraints in carrying out research in this area
Geoff is interested in evaluation research, in particular, the evaluation of sports programmes to reduce youth crime. While favouring a critical realist approach, his recent book (2007) Sport and crime reduction: the role of sports in tackling youth crime, included chapters on contrasting methodologies in evaluation and the politics of evaluation research.
Peter is interested in the application of different qualitative research methodologies within different cultural and geographical settings, in particular with reference to questions regarding the positionality of the researcher.
Recent and ongoing work
Members of the Research Methods and Research Practice cluster are active in the broader academic community. Stuart Maguire and Doug Renwick are members of the steering committee of the British Academy of Management (BAM) Research Special Interest Group (SIG). In addition to chairing sessions of the research methods track at the BAM national conference, Doug and Stuart have helped to organize numerous other events for the SIG including an Annual Workshop on "Teaching Research Methods to Business and Management Students" and an Economic and Social Research Council-funded seminar series on Advancing Research in the Business and Management Field. Phil Johnson is an Associate Editors of the leading journal on qualitative research Qualitative Research Methods in Organizations and Management.
Members of the cluster have also edited a number of journal special issues in recent years, as well as producing books, edited collections, book chapters and a number of journal articles on research methods and different aspects of the research process.