Perspectives on Replication in Qualitative Research

Abstract

With the increased debate on replication in quantitative research, the question arises as to whether there should be more replication occurring in qualitative research as well, and what that might mean. However, qualitative research is not sensitive to the same research methods challenges as quantitative research. Current debate about the role and forms of replication desirable in qualitative research in management has shifted from an emphasis on what qualitative replication is to the discussion of what qualitative replication should not be. The central argument in this debate is that the diversity of epistemological approaches in management research makes it impossible to achieve a ‘gold standard’ that fits all. At the same time, outside of the management discipline (e.g., history, sociology, anthropology, law), there are alternative ways in which qualitative research has been used for replication that might be more valuable than attempts to synchronize qualitative and quantitative replication methods. The purpose of this panel symposium is, therefore, to discuss alternative views on what qualitative replication could be and its possible value for qualitative research.