Dealing with challenges to methodological pluralism : the paradigm problem, psychological resistance and cultural barriers

MIDGLEY, Gerald, NICHOLSON, John and BRENNAN, Ross (2016). Dealing with challenges to methodological pluralism : the paradigm problem, psychological resistance and cultural barriers. Industrial Marketing Management, 62, 150-159.

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Official URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S...
Link to published version:: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indmarman.2016.08.008

Abstract

This paper calls for methodological pluralism in industrial marketing research. We discuss three challenges that proponents of methodological pluralism have to address if their practice is to be seen as credible: the paradigm problem; psychological resistance; and lack of cultural readiness to accept pluralism. We review the works of a variety of authors from other disciplines who have tackled these problems, and identify useful ideas to take forward into a model of learning. This addresses the paradigm problem by making it clear that no pluralist methodology can exist without making its own paradigmatic assumptions. It deals with psychological resistance by talking in terms of learning, starting from wherever the researcher is currently situated (a large knowledge base is not needed to begin practicing methodological pluralism). However, this model does not deal with the question of whether the time is right, culturally, for methodological pluralism. We argue that the time will be right when it is widely appreciated that methodological pluralism adds value to industrial marketing research practice. The next step for our research community must be the accumulation of a body of empirical evidence to demonstrate that this added value does or does not exist.

Item Type: Article
Research Institute, Centre or Group - Does NOT include content added after October 2018: Sheffield Business School Research Institute > Marketing and Strategy
Departments - Does NOT include content added after October 2018: Sheffield Business School > Department of Finance, Accountancy and Business Systems
Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indmarman.2016.08.008
Page Range: 150-159
Depositing User: John Nicholson
Date Deposited: 31 Aug 2016 09:30
Last Modified: 18 Mar 2021 00:54
URI: https://shura.shu.ac.uk/id/eprint/13309

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