Locating periods of institutional change agency: a mixed methods approach
International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy
ISSN: 0144-333X
Article publication date: 9 July 2018
Abstract
Purpose
This paper presents a new mixed methods approach which allows researchers to scan industry sectors for institutional change periods and to locate periods of significant institutional change agency.
Design/methodology/approach
The approach is grounded on the institutional logics perspective and on institutional entrepreneurship theory and combines an automated quantitative content analysis with a cognitive mapping exercise.
Findings
The paper describes the development of this approach and its application to the urban water management sector of Australia. Three periods of significant institutional change agency are identified, described and discussed.
Originality/value
The paper puts forward a new methodological approach that enables a robust and objective identification of actor-driven institutional change periods which can be used as a precursor for more targeted qualitative inquiries into institutional change research.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of the Commonwealth of Australia through the Cooperative Research Centre Program. The authors also thank the Australian Research Council for providing support (DP120102791) for this research.
Citation
Brodnik, C. and Brown, R. (2018), "Locating periods of institutional change agency: a mixed methods approach", International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, Vol. 38 No. 7-8, pp. 510-525. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSSP-12-2017-0161
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited