The role and status of qualitative methods in management research: an empirical account

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present a piece of empirical work that investigates the current role and status of qualitative research within the management field. Design/methodology/approach The research is based on 45 in‐depth qualitative interviews with members of a range of different stakeholder groups, including: journal editors; qualitative researchers; Doctoral Programme Leaders; practitioners; and those who fund qualitative management research. Findings The findings suggest that there is considerable variety in definitions of qualitative research; that there are still a number of issues surrounding the status and credibility of qualitative research within the field; and there is a need for greater access to researcher training in this area. Practical implications The paper is of practical interest to qualitative researchers in that it details some of the issues surrounding publishing qualitative work. Originality/value The paper presents original empirical work in this field.