City Research Online

Abstract

Research is a paradoxical process. Scholars confront conflicting yet interwoven pressures, considering methodologies that engage complexity and simplicity, induction and deduction, novelty and continuity, and more. Paradox theory offers insights that embrace such tensions, providing empirical examples that harness creative friction to foster more novel and useful, rigorous and relevant research. Leveraging this lens, we open a conversation on research tensions, developing the foundations of a Paradox Approach to Methods applicable to organization studies more broadly. To do so, we first identify tensions raised at six methodological decision points: research scope, construct definition, underlying assumptions, data collection, data analysis and interpretation. Second, we build on paradox theory to identify navigating practices: accepting, differentiating, integrating, and knotting. By doing so, we contribute to organizational research broadly by embracing methods tensions to advance scholarly insight.

Publication Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Copyright © 2025
Publisher Keywords:	Methodological tensions, paradox theory, empirical research methods
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor
Departments:	Bayes Business School Bayes Business School > Management
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Administrator

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