Methodological Considerations in the Professional Accreditation Research

Abstract

This essay paper provides methodological considerations for research on turnaround management (business rescue) practitioner (BRP) accreditation. The article responds to recent BRP licensing debates and the need to enhance BRP capabilities through continuing professional development (CPD). We assess existing data collection procedures using the practice theory and demonstrate sequenced integrated data collection procedures (IDCPs) to study BRPs’ professional accreditation frameworks. We illustrate IDCPs using a research design for “how BRPs should be accredited by their professional bodies (PBs) before obtaining a practice license”. The proposed IDCPs call for the purposeful interpretation of legislative instruments governing BRP work and other multiple-party data collection techniques. The paper lays out the problems associated with using questionnaire surveys and semi-structured interviews to document BRP practices and the required professional capabilities. We propose a research design to illustrate the application of the IDCPs in a multiple PB occupation.