Getting Inside the Head of the Management Researcher One More Time: Context-Free and Context-Specific Orientations in Research

Abstract

Context-free versus context-specific research orientations are discussed as researchers' cognitive styles that influence the way in which management research is conducted. Context-free research is considered as that conducted by researchers interested in phenomena (e.g., motivation, leadership, strategic planning) free of the particular organizational context in which the phenomena are found. By contrast, context-specific research is that which focuses on unique characteristics of types of organizations (e.g., health care or public sector organizations). The two orientations are compared and contrasted along some dozen issue areas ranging from analytical issues to application and professional issues. The relationship of these orientations to methodological preferences is examined. Examples are provided which show how combining these orientations has been used to enhance management research within a process called reality testing.