You are here

Re-imagining the Research Process
Share

Re-imagining the Research Process
Conventional and Alternative Metaphors



September 2021 | 208 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd

This book offers a unique solution to the shortage of more imaginative and engaging research by re-imagining the core elements of the research process. 

In contrast to existing methods, which mainly focus on standard ingredients in the research process, the metaphorical approach taken here offers a more varied and comprehensive platform for producing novel, influential and relevant research. The set of guiding principles suggested in the book provides researchers with the resources to break away from existing conventions and templates for conducting and writing research.

Re-imagining the Research Process: Conventional and Alternative Metaphors is suitable for upper-undergraduate and postgraduate students and researchers interested in challenging traditional views of the research process.

Mats Alvesson holds a chair in the Business Administration department at Lund University in Sweden and is also a part-time professor at University of Queensland Business School, Australia and at Cass Business School, UK.

Jorgen Sandberg is Professor at UQ Business School, University of Queensland, Australia, and Distinguished Research Environment Professor in Organization Studies at the Warwick Business School, UK. 

 
Part 1: Setting the scene and metaphorical reflexivity
 
Chapter 1 Conventions and templates: a straitjacket for innovative research
 
Chapter 2 Metaphors
 
Chapter 3 Reflexivity
 
Chapter 4 Reflexivity and metaphors in combination
 
Part 2: Re-imaging the research process
 
Chapter 5 Metaphorizing the grounding elements of RP
 
Chapter 6 Metaphorizing the framing elements of RP
 
Chapter 7 Metaphorizing the processing elements of RP
 
Chapter 8 Metaphorizing the delivering elements of RP
 
Part 3: A kaleidoscope of RP metaphors
 
Chapter 9 Proposing a kaleidoscopic of RP metaphors
 
Chapter 10 Illustrating the kaleidoscope of RP metaphors
 
Chapter 11 Generating more interesting research through metaphorical reflexivity

This is a very important book that goes right to the heart of what research and scholarship is and could be in the social sciences; and which therefore touches on several profound matters of intellectual and academic life in the twenty-first century.

Ronald Barnett
Emeritus Professor of Higher Education, University College London Institute of Education, UK

This book is a formidable achievement, brilliant both in its breadth and depth. It offers a tremendous corrective to the various formulas that clutter conventional methods books.

Yiannis Gabriel
Professor Emeritus, University of Bath, UK

Good background for those studentds who are looking for something a bit moreinventive in their methodology.

Mr andy millington
Faculty of Health & Social Care (Blackberry Hill), University of The West of England
February 20, 2022

Mats Alvesson

Mats Alvesson is Professor of Organization Studies at the University of Bath, and also affiliated with Lund University, Stockholm School of Economics and Bayes Business School, City, University of London. More About Author

Jorgen Sandberg

Jörgen Sandberg is Professor in the University of Queensland (UQ) Business School and Honorary Professor at Warwick Business School. More About Author

Purchasing options

Please select a format:

ISBN: 9781529732146
£37.99
ISBN: 9781529732153
£110.00

SAGE Research Methods is a research methods tool created to help researchers, faculty and students with their research projects. SAGE Research Methods links over 175,000 pages of SAGE’s renowned book, journal and reference content with truly advanced search and discovery tools. Researchers can explore methods concepts to help them design research projects, understand particular methods or identify a new method, conduct their research, and write up their findings. Since SAGE Research Methods focuses on methodology rather than disciplines, it can be used across the social sciences, health sciences, and more.