Innovative ways of analysing interview data

Abstract

In this one-hour seminar, we discuss innovative ways to analyse interview data. The discussion will follow two presentations (see below for more information). We are also pleased to have Markieta Domecka (University of Roehampton, London) joining us as a discussant. Presentation 1: “Sustainability in the Age of Datafication: Identifying Dynamic Capabilities for Sustainable Data Management” by Arjen Van de Walle (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) Abstract: The digital transformation of organizations has intensified the use of big data and data-intensive technologies. This datafication has large material implications, coinciding with environmental and social sustainability pressures originating from this transition. In response to growing calls for novel paradigms in data management, this study conceptualizes sustainable data management as a strategic and organizational challenge rather than a purely technological optimization problem. Building on the domain of Dynamic Capabilities, this research examines how firms sense, seize, and reconfigure capabilities to embed sustainability considerations into data management. Adopting an abductive research design, the study first integrates qualitative interviews and existing literature to identify and refine dynamic capabilities for sustainable data management. Subsequently, a multiple case study design is deployed for theoretical refinement. By operationalizing Dynamic Capabilities in the context of sustainable data management, this research aims to advance the alignment of digitalization with sustainability imperatives and contribute to the development of an empirically grounded capability framework for sustainable data management. Presentation 2: “Interview research with cognitive maps” by Stephanie Dornschneider-Elkink (University College Dublin) Abstract: Interviews offer an important source for capturing subjective descriptions of reasoning under complex real-world conditions. However, existing methods of interview analysis are not designed to systematically trace reasoning processes. Cognitive mapping addresses this gap by providing a structured methodology for identifying and visualizing how individuals reason. Cognitive mapping allows for a new way of coding interviews into the main concepts of reasoning – beliefs, inferences (connections between beliefs) and conclusions or decisions. Substantively, this makes visible the empirically grounded reasoning steps that lead to behavioral outcomes – which can subsequently be compared with the assumptions of existing theories. Methodologically, cognitive maps capture relationships between concepts. This enriches existing qualitative methods by providing systematic approaches to key goals of qualitative analysis - such as understanding how narratives are constructed, identifying links between recurring themes, mapping subjective experiences, examining patterns of conversational turn-taking, and developing theories grounded in data.