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Field Guide to Intercultural Research
This informative Field Guide to Intercultural Research is specifically designed to be used in the field, guiding the reader away from pitfalls and towards best practice. It shares valuable fieldwork challenges and experiences, as well as insights into key methodological debates and practical recommendations relevant to both new and seasoned researchers.
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Critical Acclaim
Contributors
Contents
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This informative Field Guide to Intercultural Research is specifically designed to be used in the field, guiding the reader away from pitfalls and towards best practice. It shares valuable fieldwork challenges and experiences, as well as insights into key methodological debates and practical recommendations relevant to both new and seasoned researchers.
Offering an international outlook and featuring insights from across four continents, this invaluable guide introduces new methods and approaches to data analysis, tackling various research phases, including perspectives from quantitative researchers. It focuses on the role of culture and the intercultural challenges that fieldworkers encounter, enticing readers into further conversations concerning the role of fieldwork in producing new knowledge. Expert contributors illustrate the benefits of field research in intercultural research not only to academic literature, but also to organizational policies and the societies within which we work and live.
Including insights from the fields of ethnography and social anthropology, this cutting edge guide is crucial reading for all students and researchers of business and management studies as well as organizational development hoping to begin their foray into fieldwork, as well as experienced scholars looking for new approaches to field research. It will also benefit management professionals and consultants in need of an expanded knowledge base for conducting action research or other interventions in organizations.
Offering an international outlook and featuring insights from across four continents, this invaluable guide introduces new methods and approaches to data analysis, tackling various research phases, including perspectives from quantitative researchers. It focuses on the role of culture and the intercultural challenges that fieldworkers encounter, enticing readers into further conversations concerning the role of fieldwork in producing new knowledge. Expert contributors illustrate the benefits of field research in intercultural research not only to academic literature, but also to organizational policies and the societies within which we work and live.
Including insights from the fields of ethnography and social anthropology, this cutting edge guide is crucial reading for all students and researchers of business and management studies as well as organizational development hoping to begin their foray into fieldwork, as well as experienced scholars looking for new approaches to field research. It will also benefit management professionals and consultants in need of an expanded knowledge base for conducting action research or other interventions in organizations.
Critical Acclaim
‘A useful and comprehensive guide for academic researchers, particularly into international business practice and its relationship to culture, covering principles and practice of effective fieldwork.’
Peter McGee, Training, Language and Culture Journal
‘The Field Guide to Intercultural Research is a fantastic compilation of insights and experiences of intercultural scholars who have ‘walked the talk’ when it comes to conducting field work in a global context. Filled with many practical suggestions about the methodological choices and tradeoffs incurred as well as the authors’ reflections about their own lived experiences as intercultural researchers, this book is a valuable resource for anyone, from the novice to the expert, who aims to embark on intercultural field research. Reading the stories of those who contributed to this book is both motivational and instructive, so be sure to pack this book in your bag for your intercultural research journey!’
– Margaret Shaffer, University of Oklahoma, US
‘I can highly recommend the Field Guide to Intercultural Research to PhD students and academics alike. The edited book is an excellent collection of highly experienced field researchers from around the world who share their experiences of dealing with cultural challenges in the field. The Field Guide ties discussions about fieldwork, methodological debates and various theoretical perspectives together with the practical aspects of doing research in the field. Particularly valuable are the author''s recommendations, which are helpful for ensuring success with field based projects, and to highlight the different types of complexity involved when conducting fieldwork in a range of different countries.’
– Lailani L. Alcantara, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Japan
‘Intercultural research is arguably the most important frontier in business and management research. As protectionism and global decoupling strengthen, so does the need to test and explore the validity of ideas across contexts. This book offers a state-of-the-art toolbox to address the important issues without stumbling into common traps. An important step onwards from the dominance of WEIRD (Western, educated, industrialized, rich & democratic) theory builders.’
– Jan Ketil Arnulf, BI Norwegian Business School, Norway
‘This comprehensive edited volume brings together first-hand experiences of fieldwork undertaken by an international community of scholars. Grounded in the tradition of anthropology, the authors show the beauty - as well as the complexity – of translating cultural meanings across contexts and audiences. The book provides a captive read to scholars, who undertake intercultural research themselves or who serve as supervisors of such research. I can wholeheartedly recommend this field guide.’
– Rebecca Piekkari, Aalto University, Finland
‘The Field Guide to Intercultural Research contains a plethora of practical, insightful, and wise advice gleaned from scholars who have spent their careers engaged in intercultural research projects. The book is an important contribution to the field and will greatly benefit doctoral students, fledgling scholars, and experienced intercultural scholars alike.’
– Mark E. Mendenhall, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, US
Peter McGee, Training, Language and Culture Journal
‘The Field Guide to Intercultural Research is a fantastic compilation of insights and experiences of intercultural scholars who have ‘walked the talk’ when it comes to conducting field work in a global context. Filled with many practical suggestions about the methodological choices and tradeoffs incurred as well as the authors’ reflections about their own lived experiences as intercultural researchers, this book is a valuable resource for anyone, from the novice to the expert, who aims to embark on intercultural field research. Reading the stories of those who contributed to this book is both motivational and instructive, so be sure to pack this book in your bag for your intercultural research journey!’
– Margaret Shaffer, University of Oklahoma, US
‘I can highly recommend the Field Guide to Intercultural Research to PhD students and academics alike. The edited book is an excellent collection of highly experienced field researchers from around the world who share their experiences of dealing with cultural challenges in the field. The Field Guide ties discussions about fieldwork, methodological debates and various theoretical perspectives together with the practical aspects of doing research in the field. Particularly valuable are the author''s recommendations, which are helpful for ensuring success with field based projects, and to highlight the different types of complexity involved when conducting fieldwork in a range of different countries.’
– Lailani L. Alcantara, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Japan
‘Intercultural research is arguably the most important frontier in business and management research. As protectionism and global decoupling strengthen, so does the need to test and explore the validity of ideas across contexts. This book offers a state-of-the-art toolbox to address the important issues without stumbling into common traps. An important step onwards from the dominance of WEIRD (Western, educated, industrialized, rich & democratic) theory builders.’
– Jan Ketil Arnulf, BI Norwegian Business School, Norway
‘This comprehensive edited volume brings together first-hand experiences of fieldwork undertaken by an international community of scholars. Grounded in the tradition of anthropology, the authors show the beauty - as well as the complexity – of translating cultural meanings across contexts and audiences. The book provides a captive read to scholars, who undertake intercultural research themselves or who serve as supervisors of such research. I can wholeheartedly recommend this field guide.’
– Rebecca Piekkari, Aalto University, Finland
‘The Field Guide to Intercultural Research contains a plethora of practical, insightful, and wise advice gleaned from scholars who have spent their careers engaged in intercultural research projects. The book is an important contribution to the field and will greatly benefit doctoral students, fledgling scholars, and experienced intercultural scholars alike.’
– Mark E. Mendenhall, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, US
Contributors
Contributors: H. Abdo, A. Artis, M. Banai, C. Barmeyer, A. Bartel-Radic, K. Brkovic, M. Chapman, E. Davoine, E. Esho, R. Garg, M. Gillan, D.S.A. Guttormsen, W.S. Harvey, A.-W. Harzing, I. Holcombe-James, B. Hunt, T.M. Hanh Huynh, M. Jackowska, C. Jonasson, A. Kainzbauer, S. Korsgaard, J. Lauring, M.S. Linneberg, A. Ly, N.B. Mazonde, F. Moore, J.C. Morreale, A. Newenham-Kahindi, G. Odden, M. Owa, A.E. Oyewunmi, T. Pavkov, P. Poljsak-Rosinski, M. Pudelko, B.S. Reiche, E. Rennie, C. Richardson, M. Ridgway, F. Robson, W.T. Selmier II, A. Shostya, I.O. Spjeldnæs, B.W. Stening, H.H. Thein, S. Theys, S.I. Ukenna, B. Zolfaghari, M. Zølner
Contents
Contents:
Preface: some musings on fieldwork in a business context xxiv
Malcolm Chapman
1 Introduction: following the researchers into the field 1
David S. A. Guttormsen, Jakob Lauring and Malcolm Chapman
PART I PRACTICAL THEMES
2 Using grounded theory in an African business context 14
W. Travis Selmier II and Aloysius Newenham-Kahindi
3 Intercultural survey research: challenges and suggested solutions 29
Anne-Wil Harzing, B. Sebastian Reiche and Markus Pudelko
4 Interviewing global elites 41
William S. Harvey
5 Survey-based research in remote Indigenous communities:
considerations for methods 54
Indigo Holcombe-James and Ellie Rennie
6 Methodological reflections on researching ethnic business
in Southern Europe: experiences from the field 68
Gunhild Odden
7 Overcoming challenges in intercultural interviewing: the
role of intercultural training for early-career researchers 81
Ritam Garg and Petra Poljsak-Rosinski
8 Coding intercultural fieldwork data: a hands-on approach 93
Mai Skjøtt Linneberg and Steffen Korsgaard
9 Some practical advice on collecting qualitative data:
outline of a fieldwork process 106
Jakob Lauring and Charlotte Jonasson
10 Unlocking the affordances of digital technology in
qualitative research 119
Marta Jackowska
PART II THEORETICAL THEMES
11 Reflections on an intercultural (research) life 135
Bruce W. Stening
12 Doing field work in culturally hybrid locations 147
Mette Zølner
13 Researching religion in organizations: key issues and strategies 157
Christopher Richardson
14 Operationalizing ‘culture’ when conducting cross-cultural
fieldwork: the case of Germany and South Africa 166
Badri Zolfaghari
15 Academic disciplines have cultures, too: intercultural
challenges for interdisciplinary researchers in the field 178
David S. A. Guttormsen, Petra Poljsak-Rosinski, Htwe
Htwe Thein, Trifon Pavkov, Katarina Brkovic and Michael Gillan
16 Dilemmas with multiple social identities in the field of
international development 193
Masumi Owa
17 Strategies to survive on foreign turf: experience sharing
and reflections from two apparent aliens in the field 204
Annelise Ly and Ingrid Onarheim Spjeldnæs
18 ‘Inside-out’: race, role and relations in intercultural fieldwork 216
Charlotte Jonasson, Jakob Lauring and David S. A. Guttormsen
19 Intercultural challenges of ‘rapport’ in French–German
organizational field research – insights from a binational
research tandem 229
Christoph Barmeyer and Eric Davoine
PART III REGIONAL THEMES
20 Cultural considerations and qualitative research within an
African context 243
Nomusa Benita Mazonde
21 Navigating the realities of intercultural research in
Sub-Saharan Africa: insights from Nigeria 255
Adebukola E. Oyewunmi, Stephen I. Ukenna and Ebes Esho
22 The challenges of conducting field studies in China 269
Anna Shostya, Moshe Banai and Joseph C. Morreale
23 Challenges and promoters during international fieldwork in
Lebanon 287
Hana Abdo, Amélie Artis and Anne Bartel-Radic
24 Intersectional challenges of conducting qualitative research
in the Middle East 295
Maranda Ridgway and Fiona Robson
25 Crossing borders, traversing cultures and mediating
identities: a reflection on fieldwork conducted in the Arab Gulf 310
Sarina Theys
26 Doing qualitative field research in Vietnam 321
Thi My Hanh Huynh and Anne Bartel-Radic
27 Investigating the worldview of professionals: reflections
on the challenges of researching in the Thai culture 329
Astrid Kainzbauer and Brian Hunt
Afterword 340
Fiona Moore
Index
Preface: some musings on fieldwork in a business context xxiv
Malcolm Chapman
1 Introduction: following the researchers into the field 1
David S. A. Guttormsen, Jakob Lauring and Malcolm Chapman
PART I PRACTICAL THEMES
2 Using grounded theory in an African business context 14
W. Travis Selmier II and Aloysius Newenham-Kahindi
3 Intercultural survey research: challenges and suggested solutions 29
Anne-Wil Harzing, B. Sebastian Reiche and Markus Pudelko
4 Interviewing global elites 41
William S. Harvey
5 Survey-based research in remote Indigenous communities:
considerations for methods 54
Indigo Holcombe-James and Ellie Rennie
6 Methodological reflections on researching ethnic business
in Southern Europe: experiences from the field 68
Gunhild Odden
7 Overcoming challenges in intercultural interviewing: the
role of intercultural training for early-career researchers 81
Ritam Garg and Petra Poljsak-Rosinski
8 Coding intercultural fieldwork data: a hands-on approach 93
Mai Skjøtt Linneberg and Steffen Korsgaard
9 Some practical advice on collecting qualitative data:
outline of a fieldwork process 106
Jakob Lauring and Charlotte Jonasson
10 Unlocking the affordances of digital technology in
qualitative research 119
Marta Jackowska
PART II THEORETICAL THEMES
11 Reflections on an intercultural (research) life 135
Bruce W. Stening
12 Doing field work in culturally hybrid locations 147
Mette Zølner
13 Researching religion in organizations: key issues and strategies 157
Christopher Richardson
14 Operationalizing ‘culture’ when conducting cross-cultural
fieldwork: the case of Germany and South Africa 166
Badri Zolfaghari
15 Academic disciplines have cultures, too: intercultural
challenges for interdisciplinary researchers in the field 178
David S. A. Guttormsen, Petra Poljsak-Rosinski, Htwe
Htwe Thein, Trifon Pavkov, Katarina Brkovic and Michael Gillan
16 Dilemmas with multiple social identities in the field of
international development 193
Masumi Owa
17 Strategies to survive on foreign turf: experience sharing
and reflections from two apparent aliens in the field 204
Annelise Ly and Ingrid Onarheim Spjeldnæs
18 ‘Inside-out’: race, role and relations in intercultural fieldwork 216
Charlotte Jonasson, Jakob Lauring and David S. A. Guttormsen
19 Intercultural challenges of ‘rapport’ in French–German
organizational field research – insights from a binational
research tandem 229
Christoph Barmeyer and Eric Davoine
PART III REGIONAL THEMES
20 Cultural considerations and qualitative research within an
African context 243
Nomusa Benita Mazonde
21 Navigating the realities of intercultural research in
Sub-Saharan Africa: insights from Nigeria 255
Adebukola E. Oyewunmi, Stephen I. Ukenna and Ebes Esho
22 The challenges of conducting field studies in China 269
Anna Shostya, Moshe Banai and Joseph C. Morreale
23 Challenges and promoters during international fieldwork in
Lebanon 287
Hana Abdo, Amélie Artis and Anne Bartel-Radic
24 Intersectional challenges of conducting qualitative research
in the Middle East 295
Maranda Ridgway and Fiona Robson
25 Crossing borders, traversing cultures and mediating
identities: a reflection on fieldwork conducted in the Arab Gulf 310
Sarina Theys
26 Doing qualitative field research in Vietnam 321
Thi My Hanh Huynh and Anne Bartel-Radic
27 Investigating the worldview of professionals: reflections
on the challenges of researching in the Thai culture 329
Astrid Kainzbauer and Brian Hunt
Afterword 340
Fiona Moore
Index
