Making conscious choices in doing research on workplace spirituality : Utilizing the “holistic development model” to articulate values, assumptions and dogmas of the knower

An increasing range of research methods emphasize the socially situated nature of knowledge and hence the need to specify the knower. As such we need to account for the ways in which assumptions, feelings, biases, and anticipated outcomes might influence research questions, interpretation and representation of the experiences of the research participants. While these ideas are extensively discussed in relation to other influences on identity, such as race, gender, and class, there is as yet little discussion on how spiritual and religious identity might influence research. This paper argues that in researching workplace spirituality, a topic that is saturated with subjectivity, it is not only legitimate but central to safeguard the quality of our work that we articulate the dogmas, definitions, fears and desires we bring to the research. It discusses several literature‐based examples of how our assumptions influence our research. Using the author's own research as an example the paper utilizes the “holistic development model” to show how spirituality and religion influence various research choices and practices.