Sculpting the Contours of the Qualitative Landscape of Leadership Research

Abstract

This chapter presents the ontological, epistemological, methodological, and axiological assumptions underlying qualitative paradigms and describes some of the major qualitative research methods used in the study of leadership including interviews, content analysis, case study and grounded theory, narrative analysis, and a brief introduction into non-text-based data sources such as photographs, works of art, film, theater, and music. Data collection techniques and data analyses are described both collectively as well as individually for specific qualitative methods such as ethnography and image-based research. Strategies for enhancing quality standards that enhance the quality and rigor of qualitative leadership research to achieve trustworthiness and credibility are presented. The chapter concludes with an overview of future directions for qualitative leadership research that will increase the utilization of qualitative methods, enhance their legitimacy, and potential as critical contributors to advance the study of leadership