Researching Values: Methodological Approaches for Understanding Values Work in Organisations and Leadership

✍ Scribed by Gry Espedal (editor), Beate Jelstad Løvaas (editor), Stephen Sirris (editor), Arild Wæraas (editor)

• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
• Year: 2022
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 314
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

This open access book presents new approaches for researching values as they are performed or materialized. Values have been an important topic in academic literature for a long time; they are at the core of institutional theories and are often connected to ideals in organisations or ways of valuing. The various values-constructs are typically highlighted to underpin discussions of identity, ethos, and the purposive institutional work of leaders and employees. However, there is a need for more research on how values link and sustain actions and institutions.

Contributors in this volume map and discuss useful methodological ways in which values and values work can be investigated and how research on values has been and can be applied. The chapters present different methods for collecting data, including interviews, observation and shadowing, as well as various methods for analyzing data, such as thematic, discourse and narrative analysis. Chapters also consider the role of theresearcher and participant validation as a procedure to enhance the trustworthiness of the study. Finally, the book presents various empirical projects and issues related to and exemplifying values research.

This book is a valuable guide for researchers and students who are looking for a practical understanding of how to research values and values work in organisations. The volume is a follow-up of the open access book, Understanding Values Work: Institutional Perspectives in Organisations and Leadership published by Palgrave Macmillan.

✦ Table of Contents

Researching Values
Acknowledgements
Contents
List of Figures
List of Tables
Notes on Contributors
1: Researching Values in Organisations and Leadership
The Complexity of Research on Values
Key Concepts and Questions in This Book
Overview of the Chapters in This Book
Challenges to Future Research Methods
References
Part I: Methodological Approaches to Researching Values
2: Values at Work: Mapping the Field Through the Lens of Methodological Approaches
Introduction
Researching Values: A Brief Overview
Studying Explicit Values Using Quantitative Approaches
Studying Implicit Values Using Qualitative Approaches
Studying Explicit and Implicit Values Using Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches
Philosophical Underpinnings for Qualitative and Quantitative Research
Linking Research Aim with Methodological Choices
Mixed Methods Research as a Way Forward
Mixed Methods Values Research
Challenges Related to Mixed Methods Research
Conclusion
References
3: Definitions as Initial and Final Point of Values Research? Searching for Mysteries in Research Projects About Values in Organisational and Leadership Studies
Introduction
A Plea for More Definitions
How to Define Values?
Contact Sites for Definitions in Value Research
The Connection Between Value Definition and Sampling
Value Definition in Writing Up the Research: The Final Section
Conclusion
References
Websites
4: Intentionality and Agency in Values Work Research
Introduction
Values and Values Work and Their Relation to Intentionality
Intentionality and Consequence Versus Appropriateness
Intentionality and Agency
Values and Values Work and Social Order
Intentionality, Agency and Their Implications for Qualitative Methods
Qualitative Interviews
Participant Observations and Shadowing Observations
Combining Methods to Capture Different Forms of Agency
Conclusion
References
5: Extending Knowledge, Improving Practice and Refining Values: Research Informed by the Concept of Phronesis
Introduction
Phronesis: Unpacking the Concept
Translating Phronesis into Research Design
Identifying the Goal
Designing Research Tools, Data Sampling and Collecting the Data
Analysis
Future-Oriented Reflection on Change
Navigating Challenges
Resource Intensity (Time, Skills)
Ambiguities Regarding the Nature of Empirical Data
Power Asymmetries
Division of Labour
Achieving Change
Conclusion
References
6: Dilemmas and Craftsmanship Practices: Strategies for Empirically Uncovering Values and Value Conflicts
Introduction
Theoretical Background: Value Pluralism
Strategy 1: Studying Dilemmas
Strategy 2: Studying Craftsmanship Practices
Methodology
Dilemmas
Craftsmanship Practices
The Follow-up Strategy of Q-Methodology
Coding and Research Heuristic
How to Analyse Data on Dilemmas
How to Analyse Data on Craftsmanship Practices
How to Analyse Data from Q-Methodology
Examples of Empirical Studies on Value Conflicts
Procedural Versus Performance Values
A Municipality and a Hospital
Values of Academic Teachers
Values in the Police
Values in the Prison Sector
Conclusion
References
Part II: Methods for Collecting and Analysing Data
7: Research Interviews to Investigate and Co-create Values
Introduction
Research Interviews and Their Philosophical Underpinnings
The Role of the Interviewer
The Process of Inter-Viewing
Inter-View as a Narrative Inquiry to Research Values
Co-creating Meaning: Practical Examples from a Research Process
Practical Considerations in Conveying Research Interviews
Questions to Identify Values
Ethical Sensitivity and Interviewing
When to Use Research Interviews?
Conclusion
References
8: Observation and Shadowing: Two Methods to Research Values and Values Work in Organisations and Leadership
Introduction
Observation Methods in Organisation and Leadership Research
Managerial Work Behaviour
Observation and Shadowing
Participant Observation
Semi-structured Shadowing
Researching Values in Practices
Shadowing Supplemented by Interviews and Document Analysis
Observation and Shadowing
Contributions and Implications of Observational Methods
Concluding Remarks
References
9: Thematic Analysis: Making Values Emerge from Texts
Introduction
Thematic Analysis: A Brief Overview
Assigning Codes to Data
From Codes to Themes
Organizing Themes
Thematic Analysis of Values
Coding Explicitly Expressed Values
Coding Implicit Values
Coding at the Latent Level
Generating Themes from Codes
Visual Representations
Conclusion
References
10: Identifying Values Through Discourse Analysis
Introduction
What Is Discourse Analysis?
Discourse Analysis and Other Analytical Techniques
Discourse Analysis and Values
Three Discourse Analysis Approaches
Structural-Semantic Discourse Analysis
Critical Discourse Analysis
Discursive Psychology
A Text Example
Discursive Analysis of the Example Text
Critical Remarks on the Method
Conclusion
References
11: A Narrative Approach to Exploring Values in Organisations
Introduction
What Is a Narrative?
When to Use a Narrative Approach
Narratives and Values
Exploring Values Through Narratives
Narrative Research
Analysing Narratives Through Three Case Studies
Conclusion
References
12: Researchers’ Role Reflexivity When Studying Values Work
Introduction
Theoretical Perspectives
Scientific Paradigms and Researcher’s Positioning
Definitions—Roles and Reflexivity
Values and Role Reflexivity
Methods and Role Reflexivity
Role Reflexivity in Values Research
Phase 1: Claiming and Establishing Roles—Research Interest and Self-presentation
Phase 2: Performing and Negotiating Roles—Attribution and Preference
Phase 3: Role Reflexivity and Interpreting
Conclusion
References
13: Participant Validation: A Strategy to Strengthen the Trustworthiness of Your Study and Address Ethical Concerns
Introduction
Former Studies on Participant Validation
Participant Validation in a Study of Cultural Diversity and Inclusion
Validation of Shadowing Reports
Validation of Observation in Interviews
Validation of Preliminary Analysis in Focus Groups
Participant Validation—Ethical Concerns and Values Work
Addressing and Generating Ethical Concerns
Generating New Data
Participant Validation as a Site and Opportunity for Values Work
Concluding Remarks
References
Part III: Researching Values Through Practical Cases
14: The ‘Telos’ as a Lens That Illuminates Values in Practice
Introduction
Theoretical Framing
Institutional Logics: A Brief Overview
Values and Institutional Logics
The ‘Telos’ as a Category
Capturing Institutional Logics in Action
Using the ‘Pattern Matching Technique’
Constructing the Typology of Logics
Researching Values in Practice
Identifying Institutional Logics
Identifying the ‘Telos’
Using the ‘Telos’ to Identify and Research Values in Practice
Conclusion
References
15: Applying a Qualitative Case Study Approach to Study Values in Public–Private Partnerships
Introduction: What Is Case Study Research?
Public Values and New Public Management
Applying the Multiple Case Study Approach
The Importance of Context
Operationalisation of the Central Research Concept
Considering Context and Case Characteristics
Data Collection and Respondent Selection
Data Analysis
Conclusion
References
16: Values-Based Participatory Action Research in Development Ethics
Introduction
Participatory Action Research
Development
An Ethics of Regards
Translating Values-Based Participatory Action Research into Research Design
Discussion: Pros and Cons of Values-Based Participatory Action Research
Going Beyond Participation to Recognition
Conclusion
References
Index