Electronic Journal of Business Research Methods

Exploring New Perspectives: Incorporating Mixed Methods in Sustainability Accounting Research

Arin Pranesti, Fitri Romadhon — Wed, 28 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Research in sustainability accounting and reporting has expanded significantly, driven by the increasing demand for sustainable business practices. Yet, while quantitative approaches have significantly advanced sustainability accounting research, they may not fully capture the complex and multifaceted nature of sustainability issues. Integrating qualitative perspectives can complement these approaches by providing deeper contextual insights and enriching the overall understanding of sustainability phenomena. This paper argues that combining quantitative and qualitative methods through mixed methods offers a strong alternative to improve research outcomes. Mixed methods allow researchers to blend numerical data with contextual narratives, offering deeper insights into the motivations, challenges, and impacts behind sustainability accounting practices. The paper describes the current dominance of quantitative approaches in sustainability accounting research. It also highlights the underutilization of mixed methods and explains how integrating both approaches can address the weaknesses of single-method designs. The discussion briefly introduces different types of mixed methods designs to help guide future research. It also outlines challenges in applying mixed methods, such as higher resource demands and the difficulty of integrating different types of data. A synthesis of recent sustainability accounting literature reveals that although interest in mixed methods has increased, full methodological integration remains rare. To address this gap, the paper emphasizes the need for methodological flexibility and the strategic use of triangulation to enhance research rigor. By presenting updated examples and offering practical recommendations, this study contributes to advancing the methodological landscape of sustainability research. Incorporating mixed methods not only addresses existing research gaps but also enables a more comprehensive understanding of corporate behaviors, stakeholder relationships, and broader societal impacts. Future research should explore innovative designs that combine experimental and qualitative inquiries to strengthen the field further.

Business Analytics Education and Business Research Methods: A Framework for Validating Qualitative Results Using Sequential Mixed Methods

Dalia Al-Eisawi — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This paper contributes to advancing qualitative and mixed-methods research in business by offering a comprehensive framework that rigorously validates qualitative findings through an explanatory sequential mixed-methods approach. Qualitative research broadly investigates and exposes facts from an epistemological perspective. However, challenges related to the generalisation and validity of the qualitative results require further inquiry, specifically in computer science and business technology research, such as business data analytics. Thus, this article aims to guide researchers in sequentially validating qualitative research methods using Grounded Theory Methodology GTM, bias reduction, and Structural equation modelling (SEM). The study suggests three sequential stages of mixed-methods research design — the research methods employed (GTM) to extract qualitative categories. Data was collected from postgraduate students using semi-structured interviews that were analysed using a rigorous (GTM) coding technique. Accordingly, results underwent a process of bias reduction as an initial phase of validation of qualitative results, and finally, results were validated using quantitative SEM analysis. The proposed framework meticulously demonstrates how an ordered set of stages in a research design can validate qualitative results while steering a study in conceptualising Business Analytics (BA) as an academic field. The research makes significant contributions to the practical and theoretical implications of qualitative results, mixed methods research design, and validation processes in business computing education research fields, thereby enhancing the understanding and application of these methods in real-world scenarios.

Design Thinking in Business: A Bibliometric Analysis and Research Agenda

Ying Yang, Rossilah Jamil, Yao Han, Jiayue Zhang, Jiayi Xu — Fri, 08 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This study explores the intellectual landscape, developmental trajectory, and emerging themes of design thinking (DT) in business contexts through a bibliometric analysis of 604 Scopus-indexed articles published between 2003 and 2024. Utilizing VOSviewer software, the study applies descriptive statistics, co-authorship network analysis, and keyword co-occurrence mapping to uncover key patterns. Findings indicate a growing scholarly interest in DT; however, the field remains theoretically diverse and empirically fragmented, with limited international collaboration and considerable methodological heterogeneity. Core thematic clusters include innovation management, user-centered design, and organizational change. Despite the conceptual richness, this fragmentation may hinder the formation of a coherent understanding of DT’s contribution to enterprise performance, innovation capability, and strategic advantage. By charting thematic evolution and identifying underexplored areas, this study not only maps the current research terrain but also proposes a strategic research agenda aimed at integrating DT into business theory and practice. The roadmap is intended to guide future investigations toward a deeper, more actionable understanding of how design thinking enhances organizational effectiveness and drives sustained innovation in varied business environments.

A Worked Example of Faculty Blended Learning Adoption using Abductive Grounded Theory

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This study applies Abductive Grounded Theory (AGT) to examine faculty adoption of blended learning (BL) in a developing country. Through a case study, the Faculty Blended Learning Adoption Model (FBLAM) was developed, emphasizing motivation as a core mediator in BL adoption decisions. Grounded in Herzberg’s motivation-hygiene theory, the study revealed that intrinsic motivators, such as pedagogical identity, and extrinsic factors, like institutional support, significantly influence BL adoption. The iterative application of AGT enabled researchers to refine emerging insights about faculty motivation by engaging with both data and theory. Through open, axial, and selective coding, motivation emerged as the core theme mediating faculty adoption of BL. The study finds that faculty adoption is shaped by their pedagogical beliefs and the level of institutional support. It also introduces Pedagogical Identity (PI) as a key factor influencing faculty engagement with BL. FBLAM provides a framework to understand the complex interplay of motivational and institutional factors in BL adoption. This research demonstrates the utility of AGT in BL studies by iteratively combining empirical data with theoretical frameworks. It contributes to methodological discussions by offering a practical example of AGT application in technology adoption research. The findings underscore the practical relevance of AGT in developing mid-range theories and offer actionable insights for enhancing faculty motivation to adopt BL, thereby supporting the integration of technology-driven educational practices in developing contexts.

Improving Systematic Literature Reviews: A Narrative Guideline to Structure the Analysis Stage

Ntombiyokusa Nyoni, Annlizé L Marnewick, Carl Marnewick — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Systematic literature reviews (SLRs) have been used in various disciplines to explore existing research on a particular topic. SLRs are important for identifying research gaps, providing guidelines for practice and informing policy. There are several guidelines for conducting SLRs which focus mainly on providing methodological steps to ensure rigour and transparency. The initial steps of a SLR have detailed guidance. However, the analysis and evaluation steps lacks detailed guidance leading to quality challenges of reporting of their findings. With rigour during the analysis of the SLR, the findings could become more logical and relevant to practice and policy-making. The purpose of this paper is to develop guidelines for conducting analysis and synthesis during a SLR to improve the relevance and use of the findings as a basis for policy-making, practice and academia. The analysis guideline will show how findings from the SLRs can inform the regulations and standards of the different fields or industries. The paper will show how analysis is conducted in such that it assists practitioners to make informed decisions and know actions that need to be taken in their fields or industries. Lastly, researchers in academia usually conduct SLRs, and this paper will guide them in how to conduct SLR analysis based on their purpose and targeted outcome. A narrative review was used to identify the patterns to improve rigour and transparency during the analysis of a SLR. The findings from the narrative review show that the analysis process depends on the purpose and the targeted outcome of the SLR. If the outcome of the SLR is to identify research gaps, publication metric analysis should be included because it assists in identifying contextual, population and methodological gaps. On the other hand, to identify knowledge gaps, concepts should be identified, effects and interconnections should be determined. An extensive analysis should also be conducted to build a model and framework. The guidelines provided in this paper should assist researchers in improving the analysis process of a SLR, leading to usable findings.