Pre-understanding : An interpretation-enhancer and horizon-expander in research
(2022) In Organization Studies 43(3). p.395-412- Abstract
Pre-understanding – our presuppositions of reality – underlies all research. Many researchers probably also draw productively on their pre-understanding in their studies. However, very few rationales and methodological resources exist for how researchers can enrich their research by mobilizing their pre-understanding more actively and systematically. We elaborate and propose a framework for how researchers more actively, systematically and visibly can bring forward their pre-understanding and use it as a positive input in research, alongside formal data and theory. In particular, we show how researchers, in dialogue with data and theory, can mobilize their pre-understanding as an interpretation-enhancer and horizon-expander throughout... (More)
Pre-understanding – our presuppositions of reality – underlies all research. Many researchers probably also draw productively on their pre-understanding in their studies. However, very few rationales and methodological resources exist for how researchers can enrich their research by mobilizing their pre-understanding more actively and systematically. We elaborate and propose a framework for how researchers more actively, systematically and visibly can bring forward their pre-understanding and use it as a positive input in research, alongside formal data and theory. In particular, we show how researchers, in dialogue with data and theory, can mobilize their pre-understanding as an interpretation-enhancer and horizon-expander throughout the research process, including stimulating imagination and idea generation, broadening the empirical base, and evaluating what empirical material and theoretical ideas are interesting and relevant to pursue.
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- author
- Alvesson, Mats LU and Sandberg, Jörgen
- organization
- publishing date
- 2022
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- hermeneutics, interesting studies, knowledge production, pre-understanding, research methods, theory development
- in
- Organization Studies
- volume
- 43
- issue
- 3
- pages
- 395 - 412
- publisher
- SAGE Publications
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85101848855
- ISSN
- 0170-8406
- DOI
- 10.1177/0170840621994507
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- d937c92e-c629-4d49-89e4-cd07d364fcd1
- date added to LUP
- 2022-03-04 16:23:15
- date last changed
- 2022-06-29 22:51:08
@article{d937c92e-c629-4d49-89e4-cd07d364fcd1,
abstract = {{<p>Pre-understanding – our presuppositions of reality – underlies all research. Many researchers probably also draw productively on their pre-understanding in their studies. However, very few rationales and methodological resources exist for how researchers can enrich their research by mobilizing their pre-understanding more actively and systematically. We elaborate and propose a framework for how researchers more actively, systematically and visibly can bring forward their pre-understanding and use it as a positive input in research, alongside formal data and theory. In particular, we show how researchers, in dialogue with data and theory, can mobilize their pre-understanding as an interpretation-enhancer and horizon-expander throughout the research process, including stimulating imagination and idea generation, broadening the empirical base, and evaluating what empirical material and theoretical ideas are interesting and relevant to pursue.</p>}},
author = {{Alvesson, Mats and Sandberg, Jörgen}},
issn = {{0170-8406}},
keywords = {{hermeneutics; interesting studies; knowledge production; pre-understanding; research methods; theory development}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{3}},
pages = {{395--412}},
publisher = {{SAGE Publications}},
series = {{Organization Studies}},
title = {{Pre-understanding : An interpretation-enhancer and horizon-expander in research}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0170840621994507}},
doi = {{10.1177/0170840621994507}},
volume = {{43}},
year = {{2022}},
}