The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

Portrait of Mats Alvesson. Photo.

Mats Alvesson

Professor

Portrait of Mats Alvesson. Photo.

The Art of Phenomena Construction : A Framework for Coming Up with Research Phenomena beyond ‘the Usual Suspects’

Author

  • Mats Alvesson
  • Jörgen Sandberg

Summary, in English

Despite the centrality of research phenomena, the process of their definition is often neglected and reduced to a simple choosing of pre-established subjects of interest. However, good research not only includes empirical work aimed at more or less ‘given as fact’ phenomena. It also involves phenomena construction: that is, the process of generating and establishing phenomena to investigate and theorize. We contend that phenomena construction is not separate from, but integral to, both the empirical and theorizing phases in research. As few phenomena are truly ‘given’ or straightforward to observe, good research calls for careful and creative construction of the phenomenon under investigation. We propose and elaborate a framework that enables researchers to generate and establish research phenomena beyond those currently available in their specific area of interest and, based on this, to produce more imaginative and impactful research.

Department/s

  • Organizational Studies

Publishing year

2023

Language

English

Publication/Series

Journal of Management Studies

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell

Topic

  • Business Administration

Keywords

  • research methods
  • research phenomena
  • theory
  • theory development

Status

Inpress

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0022-2380