The Philosophy of Management Research [Paperback]

The field of management research is commonly regarded as or aspires to be a science discipline. As such, management researchers face similar methodological problems as their counterparts in other science disciplines. There are at least two ways that philosophy is connected with management research: ontological and epistemological.

Despite an increasing number of scattered philosophy-based discussions of research methodology, there has not been a book that provides a systematic and more comprehensive treatment of the subject. This book addresses this gap in the market and provides new ideas and arguments for guiding management researchers.

1. Philosophy: An Under-Laborer Serving Researchers

2. Explanation: Different Ways of Answering Why?

3. Assumptions: Not Something to be Assumed Away

4. Theory Testing: A Seemingly Straightforward Process

5. Generalization: A Controversial Endeavor

6. Replication: An Ignored Necessity

7. Historiography: A Neglected Research Method

8. Looking Ahead: To Be, or Not to Be, a Science

Appendix: How Philosophy Contributes to Research Methodology

At a time when empirical social science research is being questioned as never before the timing of this book could not have been better. Professor Eric Tsang assembled a collection of earlier papers and new materials covering every aspect of empirical social science research that guide scholars in their quest to undertake empirical work underlying management research that satisfies criteria of Popperian falsifiability, data transparency, robustness, replication, treatment of outliers and null findings. I strongly recommend this volume for advanced research methodology courses and for all scholars aspiring to undertake empirical social scienlƒ'