Sociology

Qualitative research

Bricolage

Social science

Knowledge management

Literature

Epistemology

Engineering

Trustworthiness

Philosophy

Psychology

Set (abstract data type)

Programming language

Metaphor

Quality (philosophy)

Popularity

Computer science

Linguistics

Management science

Computer security

Social psychology

Organizational Research Methods

Although the rising popularity of methodological templates has yielded an increasing interest in qualitative research, we discuss how the misuse of methodological templates can diminish the quality of research. As an alternative, we propose methodological bricolage as an organizing metaphor for how to do qualitative methods, which involves the combining of analytic moves for the purpose of solving a problem or problems tailored to one’s own research project. To develop a methodological bricolage approach, we draw on our own research as well as a broader set of qualitative research articles to illustrate how authors arrange various methodological moves to create an effective arrangement that communicates trustworthiness. We outline the benefits of methodological bricolage and some cautions in using this approach.

Moving Beyond Templates: A Bricolage Approach to Conducting Trustworthy Qualitative Research