Leveraging qualitative methods in organizational behavior Management

Researchers and consultants in organizational behavior management (OBM) have long been creative, adjusting their methods to answer unique questions in naturalistic settings. In this paper, we contend that qualitative methods have and can continue to bolster OBM research and practice in several ways. First, qualitative data have been used in OBM for years as part of assessment and assessment development. Qualitative methods can also be used for social validity assessments, to contextualize our work, and to identify new research topics. In this paper, each of these uses is explored with examples illustrating how qualitative methods bolster OBM research and practice. Furthermore, we provide guidance on how OBM researchers can begin learning about the approach.