873: Lessons Learned off the Beaten Path: Safeguarding Dignity in High-Impact Qualitative Research (10708)

Sunday, August 11, 2024

13:45 – 16:45 CT (GMT-5/UTC-5)

Location: Fairmont: Ambassador Room

Session Number: 873
PDW (workshop)
Orientation: Research
Shareable link: https://cdmcd.co/gakEQm

Organizer(s)

FM

Felipe Massa

U. of Vermont, Grossman School of Business, US, United States
PS

Payal N. Sharma

U. of Nevada Las Vegas, United States

Panelist(s)

EC

Eliana Crosina

Babson College, United States
AH

Audrey Holm

HEC Paris, France
RM

Ryann Elizabeth Manning

U. of Toronto, Rotman School of Management, Canada
JS

Jonas Spengler

U. of Cambridge, United Kingdom

Facilitator(s)

KL

Kisha Lashley

U. of Virginia, United States
MT

Madeline Toubiana

Telfer School of Management, U. of Ottawa, Canada
CV

Chantal Van Esch

Cal Poly Pomona, United States

There has been ongoing dialogue in our field regarding the value and potential pitfalls of studies which are conducted “off the beaten path.” The settings and focal populations at the center of this work vary widely, but are often referred to as “atypical”, “unorthodox,” “extreme,” or “unusual.” These reductive labels, however, tend to shortchange and/or do not do justice to the complex experiences of scholars who undertake these inquiries. This workshop has been organized as a panel symposium for two years to showcase lessons learned by qualitative scholars who have successfully navigated hurdles that are methodological, political, and ethical in nature. This year, based on feedback from a growing number of attendees, we are (1) transitioning to a PDW format to facilitate deeper interactions and direct feedback; and (2) focusing discussions on a pervasive tension when interfacing with atypical contexts: safe-guarding informant dignity while conducting high impact qualitative research. There is often no single boilerplate, exemplar, or sage advisor ready to give advice on how to manage this tension, leaving scholars to face unknown pitfalls as they singlehandedly improvise a research program that is both impactful and just to those under study. In addition, researchers may find themselves unable to manage idiosyncrasies and procedural challenges of their work, including its emotionally taxing nature. We hope to stimulate learning and inquiry to guide doctoral students, junior faculty, and/or those who are new to this arena, creating a community of scholars who do their work “off the beaten path”.

No pre-registration is necessary.