IRSPM Online Forum II
IRSPM is pleased to present the second edition of the IRSPM Online Fora, a new initiative aimed at creating a space for timely and reflective discussions within the international public management research community.
Dear colleagues,
We are pleased to invite you to the second event of the newly launched IRSPM Online Fora, a series aimed at creating space for open and reflective discussions within our community.
- IRSPM Online Forum
- Topic: Methods across Boundaries: Qualitative–Quantitative Dialogue in Public Management
- 22 September 2026
- 14:00–15:00 (Brussels time)
- Online / Free access
- Registration required: Process your registration for the event https://bocconi.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bO9BCLoDyncDo6G. The link to the event will be provided to registered participants only.
Imagine
Public management research draws on a wide range of methodological traditions, each grounded in distinct assumptions about how knowledge is generated and validated. Rather than framing qualitative and quantitative approaches as competing paradigms, there is growing recognition that dialogue across methodological boundaries can foster more robust, insightful, and impactful research. By engaging with different epistemological perspectives, scholars can better appreciate the strengths, limitations, and complementarities of diverse research traditions.
This forum invites us to reflect on key questions:
- How do different research traditions generate and validate knowledge?
- How can qualitative and quantitative approaches complement one another while preserving their distinct assumptions?
- What are the opportunities and challenges of mixed-methods research?
- What can we learn by engaging across methodological boundaries?
In this panel, we will discuss how methodological diversity can strengthen public management research and explore ways to foster a more constructive dialogue across qualitative and quantitative traditions.
SPEAKERS:
- Koen Bartels (University of Birmingham)
- Bert George (City University of Hong Kong)
- Eva Thomann (University of Konstanz)
- Joris Voets (Ghent University)
MODERATOR:
- Maria Cucciniello (Bocconi University)
INFORMATION:
- For any additional information, please contact Forum Coordinator, Prof. Maria Cucciniello on: maria.cucciniello@unibocconi.it
We hope you will join us for this important discussion.
Best regards,
IRSPM Online Fora Team