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Unleashing the Creative Potential of Research Tensions: Toward a Paradox Approach to Methods

Stephanie Schrage et al.

Organizational Research Methods2025https://doi.org/10.1177/10944281251346804article
AJG 4ABDC A*
Weight
0.37

Abstract

Research is a paradoxical process. Scholars confront conflicting yet interwoven pressures, considering methodologies that engage complexity and simplicity, induction and deduction, novelty and continuity, and more. Paradox theory offers insights that embrace such tensions, providing empirical examples that harness creative friction to foster more novel and useful, rigorous, and relevant research. Leveraging this lens, we open a conversation on research tensions, developing the foundations of a Paradox Approach to Methods applicable to organization studies more broadly. To do so, we first identify tensions raised at six methodological decision points: research scope, construct definition, underlying assumptions, data collection, data analysis, and interpretation. Second, we build on paradox theory to identify navigating practices: accepting, differentiating, integrating, and knotting. By doing so, we contribute to organizational research broadly by embracing methods of tensions to advance scholarly insight.

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https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/10944281251346804

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@article{stephanie2025,
  title        = {{Unleashing the Creative Potential of Research Tensions: Toward a Paradox Approach to Methods}},
  author       = {Stephanie Schrage et al.},
  journal      = {Organizational Research Methods},
  year         = {2025},
  doi          = {https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/10944281251346804},
}

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Evidence weight

0.37

Balanced mode · F 0.40 / M 0.15 / V 0.05 / R 0.40

F · citation impact0.16 × 0.4 = 0.06
M · momentum0.53 × 0.15 = 0.08
V · venue signal0.50 × 0.05 = 0.03
R · text relevance †0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20

† Text relevance is estimated at 0.50 on the detail page — for your query’s actual relevance score, open this paper from a search result.