PDW 02: Analyzing and Theorizing Raw Qualitative Data as a Collective
Call for Applications
Purpose
This PDW is held in association with the EGOS Standing Working Group (SWG) 06 on Communication,
Performativity, and Organization. Specifically, it focuses on analyzing and theorizing raw qualitative data from communication
as constitutive (CCO; e.g., Ashcraft et al., 2009; Cooren et al., 2011; Schoeneborn et al., 2019) and performativity perspectives
(e.g., Cabantous et al., 2018; Gond et al., 2016). The workshop offers a space for interested scholars to share and discuss
their raw empirical material as a collective.
Much of what we do as interpretive researchers when making
sense of our data continues to remain in the figurative black box, especially those first moments of exploring the material
for intriguing hooks, surprising puzzles, potential theoretical connections, and so on. Common questions abound, particularly
so for early-career researchers, such as: Is what I am seeing in the data interesting and relevant? Do others share my observations
and interpretations? What other angles could be useful for my work, and which theoretical notions could I maybe contribute
to?
In our experience, such and similar questions are best answered when coming together as a collective.
That is precisely why, with this PDW, we seek to create a space where scholars can jointly discuss data and generate ideas.
We have in mind an event that facilitates knowledge exchange and learning and that fosters new connections and collaborations;
a hands-on workshop where a select number of presenters share their data to analyze it with the other participants in the
room. In doing so, participants will be able to discuss raw data around the same time as discussing more ‘polished’ data at
the main EGOS Colloquium. This will provide currently-lacking insight into the data journey many of us individually encounter,
but too infrequently explore together as a collective. We have tested this format already in the summer of 2022, but please
see the next section for more details on the background story of this PDW.
Background: ‘The CCO Data Collective’
Starting
in 2020, The CCO Data Collective (www.ccodatacollective.com) has provided a space
for communication as constitutive and performativity scholars to come together virtually to share, analyze and theorize data
collectively. The collective currently stands at over 40 members from North America and Europe across a spectrum of career
stages, from doctoral to full professorial. So far, ten online events have been successfully run with data from diverse research
projects as well as one in-person workshop. As a collective, we discuss interesting observations and interpretations as well
as potential theoretical avenues, resulting in inspiring conversations, many novel ideas, and strengthened or newly formed
connections among both junior and senior scholars.
Format
The PDW consists of three main parts:
Part 1: Welcome and introductions
Part 2: Presenttion and collective discussion of raw qualitative data (the conveners will make a selection beforehand regarding which empirical material will be shared and discussed)
Part 3: Collective reflection
Application
We invite applications from scholars with an interest in how to analyze raw data drawing on CCO theorizing and/or a performativity perspective to study organizing processes and phenomena. There are two ways of participating: (A) with sharing own data or (B) without sharing own data (discussing others’ data).
A – If you would like to participate and share your own data, please submit – via the EGOS website – by April 30, 2023 a single document (.docx or .pdf file) which includes the following information:
Your name, affiliation, contact details, and career stage;
A short introduction to your empirical data (including what intrigues or puzzles you about the data);
An extract/description of or a link to your raw data (if the data is not anonymized or publicly available, please make sure to acquire the needed consent).
We welcome various data types, including (but not limited to) the following:
- Textual (e.g., archives, emails, reports, blogs, social media, etc.);
- Audio (e.g., audio recordings + transcriptions of interviews, conversations, etc.);
- Visual (e.g., video recordings + transcriptions of meetings, interventions, as well as Youtube videos, images, drawings, etc.)
Please make sure that transcripts are translated to English.
B – If you would like to participate without sharing your own data, please submit – via the EGOS website – by April 30, 2023 a single document (docx or .pdf file) which includes the following information:
Your name, affiliation, contact details, and career stage;
A short text about your interest in attending the workshop and what sort of data you typically or presently work with, including the perspective(s) you apply.
References
- Ashcraft, K.L., Kuhn, T.R., & Cooren, F. (2009): “Constitutional amendments: ‘Materializing’ organizational communication.” The Academy of Management Annals, 3 (1), 1–64.
- Cabantous, L., Gond, J.-P., & Wright, A. (2018): “The performativity of strategy: Taking stock and moving ahead.” Long Range Planning, 51 (3), 407–416.
- Cooren, F., Kuhn, T., Cornelissen, J.P., & Clark, T. (2011): “Communication, organizing and organization: An overview and introduction to the Special Issue.” Organization Studies, 32 (9), 1149–1170.
- Gond, J.-P., Cabantous, L., Harding, N., & Learmonth, M. (2016): “What do we mean by performativity in organizational and management theory? The uses and abuses of performativity.” International Journal of Management Reviews, 18 (4), 440–463.
- Schoeneborn, D., Kuhn, T.R., & Kärreman, D. (2019): “The communicative constitution of organization, organizing, and organizationality.” Organization Studies, 40 (4), 475–496.