Journal ArticleDOI
Ways of constructing research questions: gap-spotting or problematization?
Jörgen Sandberg,Mats Alvesson +1 more
Reads0
Chats0
TLDR
The most common way across paradigmatic camps is to spot various 'gaps' in the literature and, based on that, to formulate specific research questions as mentioned in this paper, which are likely to promote the development of interesting and influential theories.Abstract:
This article examines ways of constructing research questions from existing literature, which are likely to promote the development of interesting and influential theories. We review 52 articles in organization studies and develop a typology of how researchers construct their research questions from existing literature. The most common way across paradigmatic camps is to spot various 'gaps' in the literature and, based on that, to formulate specific research questions. The dominance of gap-spotting is surprising, given it is increasingly recognized that theory is made interesting and influential when it challenges assumptions that underlie existing literature. The article discusses why assumption-challenging approaches are rare, and it identifies a range of social norms that favour gap-spotting. Finally, the article proposes some ways of constructing research questions that move beyond gap-spotting, and discusses how these ways are likely to promote more interesting and significant theories.read more
Citations
More filters
Book ChapterDOI
The archaeology of knowledge
TL;DR: We may not be able to make you love reading, but archaeology of knowledge will lead you to love reading starting from now as mentioned in this paper, and book is the window to open the new world.
Journal ArticleDOI
Generating Research Questions Through Problematization
Matas Alvesson,Jörgen Sandberg +1 more
TL;DR: Problematization is proposed as a methodology for identifying and challenging assumptions underlying existing literature and, based on that, formulating research questions that are likely to lead to more influential theories.
References
More filters
Book
The Structure of Scientific Revolutions
TL;DR: The Structure of Scientific Revolutions as discussed by the authors is a seminal work in the history of science and philosophy of science, and it has been widely cited as a major source of inspiration for the present generation of scientists.
Book
The Interpretation of Cultures
Richard Fenn,Clifford Geertz +1 more
TL;DR: The INTERPRETATION OF CULTURES CLIFFORD GEERTZ Books files are available at the online library of the University of Southern California as mentioned in this paper, where they can be used to find any kind of Books for reading.