Research Matters? Episode 2: foundational concepts

Making no apologies for a slightly longer than usual episode,  Steve and Russ ruminate on cause and consequence in research, what making a contribution really means, and whether Steve should be the first Professor of Accounting Philosophy (YES!).  Along the way there is discussion of T.S. Eliot and Charlotte's Web. Enjoy!

In this episode, Steve and Russ start to move the discussion on from all things ontological and epistemological in order to consider how we 'operationalize' our research and give it the best chance of providing good answers to good questions. Russ and Steve discuss what makes research high quality, and how can we articulate what quality even means.  Also, listen out for a surprise guest appearance at around the 44m.39s mark!

What makes good research is our founding question.  This episode explores the world of research impact - how academic research can influence policymakers and policy-implementers and seek to change the society we live in. We are joined by Dr Stephen Buzdugan, who is leading on some of the development of impact work across the MMU Faculty of Business and Law.   

Russ and Steve start the arduous process of locating themselves within the research forest.  Which trees will you climb to survey your domain? Can you stay up a single tree all the time?  What happens if you try to build a treehouse? Contributions, theories, and the varied literatures - how we have conversations with the scholarship as part of a PhD and how we build research confidence.

If you have only just got your head around all things ontological, we now move on to look at epistemology and the interaction between the two.  Just how different are these concepts? Why is there no real normative guidance on how to pick the 'right' epistemology? Can't I just go and do interviews?

Steve and Russ now begin the tricky process of trying to disentangle the concepts of ontology and epistemology.  This episode considers how we should view ontology as a spectrum, rather than a series of fixed points.  However, this position is not without challenges of its own. Remember: the truth is out there, but only probably if you are a post-positivist...

Steve and Russ discuss some of the basic concepts in the field of research design.  What are the points of agreement and disagreement?

This episode launches our new social science research design podcast that explores how high-quality research in business, management and law is designed.  The initial episodes are based on the Principles of Research Design course at Manchester Metropolitan University's Faculty of Business & Law on the doctoral research training programme but should be of interest to anyone involved in research design. This week, Dr Steve Wynne and Dr Russ Glennon introduce 'research that matters'.