Rigour vs. Reality: Contextualizing Qualitative Research in the Low‐Income Settings in Emerging Markets

Abstract

Management scholars increasingly conduct qualitative research in low-income settings in emerging markets. These large communities, which often operate in the informal economy and cut across national boundaries, face enormous challenges in meeting basic needs. Nevertheless, low-income settings have not received separate methodological attention and are often subsumed instead under the more general and homogenous category of emerging markets. We argue that application of Western methodological conventions to low-income settings may result in decontextualized and distorted knowledge that does not advance societal betterment. We characterize research that strictly follows methodological rules and steps, with limited contextualization for low-income settings as 'rigourby-convention'. In turn, we introduce the alternative concept of 'rigour-within-context', which reconciles the seemingly opposing goals of rigorous and contextualized research. In this approach, researchers contextualize their research, even if this means deviating from established conventions. Hence, rigour should be judged by its internal logic rather than by external rules or templates not designed to capture key insights from low-income settings. We conclude by recommending the means through which contextualized research on low-income settings can be conducted.

Editorial: Repurposing management knowledge production in the Global South context

“…These constraints encompass issues like low literacy rates, difficulties in accessing and sometimes unsafe research locations, as well as challenges related to trust and freedom of speech. However, these challenges are often not adequately considered during the research design phase, addressed in the research development process or explained in the methodology section of published articles (Halme, Piekkari, Matos, Wierenga, & Hall, 2022). As a result, research conducted in these contexts may not be widely disseminated because it does not meet the stringent standards of top-tier journals.…”

“…As a result, research conducted in these contexts may not be widely disseminated because it does not meet the stringent standards of top-tier journals. This can lead to losing valuable insights for global management research (Halme et al, 2022).…”

Listening to students: Perspectives, Experiences, and Next Steps

“…For instance, academic in-group bias has been documented in academic journals and knowl-edge production (Demeter, 2020;Lutmar & Reingewertz, 2021;Reingewertz & Lutmar, 2018). Similarly, the ways in which rigour may be interpreted may exclude innovative or non-Eurocentric research methods (Battiste, 2013;Battiste & Henderson, 2009;Halme et al, 2022). We experienced this especially as a tension in selecting manuscripts for inclusion in this special issue.…”

Visualizing Embodied Experiences: Drawing as a Form of Reflective Inquiry Informed by Gestalt Art Therapy

“…, 2021; Halme et al. , 2022). To this end, the title of Cunliffe and Pavlovich's article (2022, p. 879) draws attention to the key issue: ‘making our work matter’.…”

“…There is a growing body of literature in management studies advocating for research that generates either societal (Cunliffe and Pavlovich, 2022) or organizational impact (Radaelli et al, 2014). For instance, prior research has focused on addressing global injustices (Tsui and McKiernan, 2022), giving voice to unheard research participants (Burns et al, 2014) and dismantling Western-dominated ways of knowing (Dar et al, 2021;Halme et al, 2022). To this end, the title of Cunliffe and Pavlovich's article (2022, p. 879) draws attention to the key issue: 'making our work matter'.…”