Composing qualitative process research

Abstract

Qualitative process research is becoming increasingly popular, yet authors often struggle with creating an effective write-up. Process articles must demonstrate a close-knit link between process data and process theory, and, at the same time, engage the reader. This requires trade-offs among options for composing the presentation of narratives, concepts, and theoretical process models. This essay distinguishes three compositional structures authors can use to write up their findings—inductive, conceptualized, and model-led. We discuss their key characteristics, pros and cons, and conditions for effective use and offer exemplars for inspiration.