Research and scholarly methods: Studies of workplace well‐being and other organizational phenomena

Abstract

AbstractAs research in pharmacy increasingly focuses on work‐related topics such as burnout, workforce management, and diversity, equity, and inclusion, there is a growing need for scholars to understand and use organizational research methods. However, these skills are not typically taught in pharmacy schools or postgraduate training programs, posing a challenge to researchers and peer reviewers alike. To address this gap, we aim to provide a practical introduction to organizational research methods with a focus on deductive, quantitative approaches. Given the growing interest in studying pharmacists' workplace well‐being, we use this as a theme for our review. We begin by discussing the importance of a thorough literature review and using theory to frame the research, develop study hypotheses, and select an appropriate research design. We also provide a list of example theories that researchers could use to study the topic of workplace well‐being. Next, we discuss key considerations for defining and measuring organizational constructs, including validity and reliability, and highlight potential pitfalls to avoid in survey research. Using several phenomena of interest in studies of workplace well‐being, we provide examples of construct definitions and illustrate how they could be operationalized as variables in a research study. Finally, we discuss important considerations for analyzing organizational data and describe skills that researchers should acquire or seek in potential collaborators. To aid researchers and peer reviewers, we provide a checklist summarizing our recommendations and references to additional resources. By equipping scholars with a better understanding of organizational research methods, we aim to enhance our understanding of pharmacists' work experiences and generate evidence to support workplace improvements that will benefit pharmacists and their efforts to provide patient care.