Special considerations for qualitative research in strategy

1
Special considerations for qualitative research
in strategy

• Sarah KaplanWharton School, University of
  Pennsylvania

2
Whats different about doing qualitative vs.
quantitative work in strategy? (I)

• Time tables will be different
• Data collection and analysis may take longer than
  in the typical quantitative study
• Proposal defense may come later (if the thesis is
  inductive, will need to collect a substantial
  amount of data before coming up with specific
  research questions)
• ? Make sure you factor this into your planning

3
Whats different about doing qualitative vs.
quantitative work in strategy? (II)

• Selling the thesis to a strategy market may be
  harder
• Doing qualitative work is less typical (of 5
  finalists in BPS competition, only one with
  substantial qualitative research)
• Extra work required to appeal to the job market
• Make sure your advisor/committee is fully on
  board and will be supportive in the job market
• Consider doing mixed methods

4
Whats different about doing qualitative vs.
quantitative work in strategy? (III)

• Extra burden to show that your contribution
  changes how we think about a theory or phenomenon
• Need to show how your work gets at something you
  cant get at with quantitative work
• Show how the insights from the work explain
  something that couldnt be explained otherwise
• Make sure you have a qualitative researcher on
  your committee, get good qualitative methods
  training
• Justify the methodological fit (why do you need
  qualitative methods?)
• Focus in on what is counterintuitive about your
  findings
• Dont forget that you still have to account for
  alternative explanations, to justify the
  appropriateness of the research setting, etc.