MANAGEMENT RESEARCH
Third Edition, 2008
Prof. M. Easterby-Smith, Prof. R. Thorpe, Prof. Paul R. Jackson
CHAPTER 4
The Philosophy of
Management Research
Learning Objectives
 To understand the different philosophical
assumptions ‘hidden’ beneath
management research and to appreciate
the strengths and weaknesses of each.
 To appreciate how different philosophical
assumptions influence criteria we use to
judge research quality.
 To be able to locate one’s own
philosophical position.
Ontology
 A Researcher’s Ontology refers to:
His/Her Philosophical
Assumptions about the Nature of
Reality.
The Main Ontological Positions
in Management Research
 Representationalism – whether or not
phenomena are concrete, it is only possible to
gather indirect evidence of what is going on in
fundamental physical processes (Putnam, 1987),
i.e., reality can be observed & measured.
 Relativism – different observers may have
different viewpoints: ‘what counts for the truth
can vary from place to place and from time to
time’ (Collins, 1983: 88).
 Nominalism – it is the labels and names we
attach to experiences and events which are
crucial.
Epistemology
 A Researcher’s Epistemology is a
result of his/her Ontological Position
and refers to:
His/Her Assumptions about the
Best Ways of Inquiring into the
Nature of the World and
Establishing ‘Truth’.
The Main Epistemological Positions
in Management Research
 Positivism – is linked to a Representationalist
ontology and aims to measure the world
through experiments
 Relativism – is linked to a Relativist ontology
and aims to expose correlations in the world
through triangulation
 Social Constructionism – is linked to a
Nominalist ontology and aims to understand
the meaning of happenings in the world
Ontology & Epistemology
Ontology of
social science
Representationalism
Relativism
Nominalism
Truth
Requires verification of
predictions.
Is determined
through consensus
between different
viewpoints.
Depends on who
establishes it.
Facts
Are concrete, but cannot
be accessed directly.
Depend on
viewpoint of
observer.
Are all human
creations.
Epistemology
of social
science
Positivism
Relativism
Social
constructionism
Epistemology & Methodology
 A particular Epistemology usually
leads the researcher to a
Methodology that is characteristic of
that position.
 Conversely, where a given Range of
Methods is employed in a particular
study it is possible to infer that the
researcher holds, perhaps implicitly, a
corresponding Epistemology.
Methodological Implications
of Different Epistemologies
Social science
epistemologies
Positivism
Relativism
Social constructionism
Aims
Discovery
Exposure
Invention
Starting points
Hypotheses
Propositions
Meanings
Designs
Experiment
Triangulation
Reflexivity
Techniques
Measurement
Survey
Conversation
Analysis
/interpretation
Verification/
falsification
Probability
Sense-making
Outcomes
Causality
Correlation
Understanding
Elements of
methodologies
Strengths & Weaknesses
of the Main Traditions
Strengths
Weaknesses
Positivist
Can provide wide coverage.
Potentially fast and economical.
Easier to provide justification of
policies.
Inflexible and artificial.
Not good for process, meanings
or theory generation.
Implications for action not
obvious.
Relativist
Accepts value of multiple data
sources.
Enables generalizations beyond
present sample.
Greater efficiency including
outsourcing potential.
Requires large samples.
Cannot accommodate
institutional and cultural
differences.
Problems reconciling discrepant
information.
Social
constructionist
Good for processes, and
meanings.
Flexible and good for theory
generation.
Data collection less artificial.
Can be very time consuming.
Analysis and interpretations are
difficult.
May not have credibility with
policy makers.
Other Philosophies
 There are a number of other philosophical
positions which have been represented as
coherent schools of thought, and as with the
others to a greater or lesser extent, exclude
other positions:






Critical theory
Feminism
Hermeneutics
Postmodernism
Pragmatism
Structuration theory
Further Reading
 Blaikie, N. (1993) Approaches to
Social Enquiry. Cambridge: Polity
Press.
 Hassard, J. and Parker, M. (eds)
(1993) Postmodernism and
Organizations. London: Sage.
 Sayer, A. (2000) Realism and Social
Science. London: Sage