TY - JOUR
T1 - No through road
T2 - A critical examination of researcher assumptions and approaches to researching sustainability
AU - McDonald, Seonaidh
AU - Oates, Caroline J.
AU - Alevizou, Panayiota J.
N1 - Copyright © 2016 Emerald Group Publishing Limited
PY - 2016/6/27
Y1 - 2016/6/27
N2 - Purpose-The purpose of this paper is to examine the ways in which academic researchers frame and conduct sustainability research and to ask to what extent we are limited by these frames. Methodology/approach-Our approach is based on an epistemological critique. We begin with a discussion of the ways in which sustainable consumption has been conceptualised within marketing; we question the influence of positivist social science research traditions and examine how research on sustainability is impacted by the structure of academia. Findings-Our critical reflection leads us to suggest three ways in which sustainability research might be re-framed: a reconsideration of language, a shift in the locus of responsibility and the adoption of a holistic approach. Research implications-We propose that in order to make progress in sustainability research, alternative frames, terms, units of analysis, method(ologies) and research ambitions are needed. Originality/value-By making visible our collective, unexamined assumptions, we can now move forward with new questions and agendas for sustainability research.
AB - Purpose-The purpose of this paper is to examine the ways in which academic researchers frame and conduct sustainability research and to ask to what extent we are limited by these frames. Methodology/approach-Our approach is based on an epistemological critique. We begin with a discussion of the ways in which sustainable consumption has been conceptualised within marketing; we question the influence of positivist social science research traditions and examine how research on sustainability is impacted by the structure of academia. Findings-Our critical reflection leads us to suggest three ways in which sustainability research might be re-framed: a reconsideration of language, a shift in the locus of responsibility and the adoption of a holistic approach. Research implications-We propose that in order to make progress in sustainability research, alternative frames, terms, units of analysis, method(ologies) and research ambitions are needed. Originality/value-By making visible our collective, unexamined assumptions, we can now move forward with new questions and agendas for sustainability research.
KW - Attitude behaviour gap
KW - Households
KW - Qualitative research
KW - Sustainability definitions
KW - Sustainable consumption
KW - Sustainable practices
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84977138541&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84977138541&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1108/S1548-643520160000013014
DO - 10.1108/S1548-643520160000013014
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84977138541
SN - 1548-6435
VL - 13
SP - 139
EP - 168
JO - Review of Marketing Research
JF - Review of Marketing Research
ER -