Critical realism and attribution theory in qualitative research

Al-Sharif, R. (2021) Critical realism and attribution theory in qualitative research. Qualitative Research in Organizations and Management: An International Journal, 16(1), pp. 127-144. (doi: 10.1108/QROM-04-2020-1919)

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this paper is to develop an integrative model that explains how incorporating the two epistemological positions of critical realism and attribution theory can help qualitative organisational researchers better understand the reality of social actors through different lenses. In addition, the paper aims to demonstrate the application of the model through a study of organisational justice perceptions of elite Muslim professionals undergoing performance appraisal in the UK banking sector. Design/methodology/approach: The approach adopted used semi-structured in-depth interviews with Muslim professionals in elite positions in UK Western and Islamic banks. Access to participants was secured through a process of purposive and snowball sampling, a tool often used to recruit hard-to-reach populations. The data were analysed through the integrative model developed in this paper. Findings: The integration of critical realism and attribution theory provided different dimensionalities of social reality. Attribution theory enabled a systematic identification of social phenomena and their causal mechanisms, defined the characteristics of those mechanisms and highlighted who/what is responsible for and affected by them. Critical realism distinguished between causal mechanisms and the generative forces that help those mechanisms to be actualised and have effect. Originality/value: The contribution of this paper is twofold. First, to the best of my knowledge, it is the first paper to build a novel integrative model of these two epistemologies. Second, it presents a detailed application of the model in a contemporary study of the perceptions of justice of Muslims in the UK banking sector.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Alsharif, Dr Rami
• Authors: Al-Sharif, R.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > Adam Smith Business School
• Journal Name: Qualitative Research in Organizations and Management: An International Journal
• Publisher: Emerald
• ISSN: 1746-5648
• ISSN (Online): 1746-5656
• Published Online: 10 November 2020
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2020 Emerald Publishing Limited
• First Published: First published in Qualitative Research in Organizations and Management: An International Journal 16(1): 127-144
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy