Work

Serialising the Research Journey: A Reflexive Tool for Transparency in Case Study Research

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Case study research rarely unfolds in a neat, linear fashion, yet published accounts often obscure the contingent and iterative nature of inquiry behind polished narratives. We introduce the serialisation sheet as a practical and epistemologically flexible tool for bracketing key episodes as research unfolds. By making interpretive shifts and methodological decisions visible, the tool supports reflexivity, transparency, and rigour without constraining emergent designs. We illustrate its use through a retrospective ( Manufacturing Consent ) and a contemporary study ( Restaurant Alchemist ). Designed for doctoral researchers and supervisors, the serialisation sheet is not a checklist but a reflexive companion to accounting for evolving inquiry.

Source: Qualitative Inquiry

DOI: 10.1177/10778004261464593

Authors: Bill Lee, Marc Stierand, Megane Miralles, Viktor Dörfler

Institutions: University of Sheffield, HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, EHL Hospitality Business School, University of Strathclyde, Corvinus University of Budapest

Language: English

Topic: Qualitative Research Methods and Ethics

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,900

OpenAlex ID: W7204498802

FWCI:

Cites: 62

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