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Balancing Rigour and Relevance: The Case for Methodological Pragmatism in Conducting Large‐Scale, Multi‐country and Comparative Management Studies
Author(s) -
Parry Emma,
Farndale Elaine,
Brewster Chris,
Morley Michael J.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
british journal of management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.407
H-Index - 108
eISSN - 1467-8551
pISSN - 1045-3172
DOI - 10.1111/1467-8551.12405
Subject(s) - rigour , representativeness heuristic , relevance (law) , data collection , scale (ratio) , management science , computer science , data science , sociology , psychology , political science , epistemology , economics , social science , geography , social psychology , philosophy , cartography , law
Collecting large‐scale comparative management data from multiple countries poses challenges in demonstrating methodological rigour, including the need for representativeness. We examine the rigour of sample representativeness, the counterbalancing effect of sample relevance, and explore sampling options, equivalence across countries, data collection procedures and response rates. We identify the challenges posed by cross‐national survey data collection, and suggest that the ideal research designs presented in much of the literature might not be practical or desirable in large‐scale, multi‐time‐point, cross‐national comparative management studies because of the need to ensure relevance across such contexts. Using the example of Cranet – a large‐scale, multi‐time‐point, cross‐national survey of human resource management – we offer suggested solutions for balancing both rigour and relevance in research of this nature.