Dr Heidi Wechtler

Newcastle Business School, University of Newcastle

SURE PhD Camp

Dr Heidi Wechtler is Deputy Head of School Research Training at the Newcastle Business School, University of Newcastle, where she leads the HDR program and oversees a cohort of approximately 100 doctoral candidates. She has published over 40 refereed journal articles and book chapters, including in leading journals, and has supervised 11 doctoral students to successful completion. Heidi previously served as coordinator of the doctoral school at the Sorbonne Business School and worked as a statistical research engineer, supporting advanced quantitative and mixed-methods research. She is actively engaged in the international academic community, contributing to the Academy of Management “Meet the Experts” method sessions, mentoring early career researchers through ANZIBA, and serving as Chair of the 2026 ANZAM Conference.

Research Methods Baseline

Here are some videos about the fundamentals of research methods. While the project might be advanced, it may help to reflect on what is still not very clearly exposed, what is assumed, what is solid, what is formally justified, how consistent our methodological choices are thorough.

Disclaimer: The videos below are AI-avatars. The content is based on the past recordings of PhD-level research method classes. The captions of the recordings have been enhanced with AI to generate more efficient and shorter scripts.

Framework

Learning Objectives

The objective of this assignment is to develop a transferable method for writing and evaluating research methods sections through systematic comparison with high-quality published articles. Students will learn to identify methods templates, unfold their components, and adjust them to their own research.

Pedagogical perspective

This assignment draws on exemplar-based learning — a synthesis of worked example learning, genre analysis pedagogy, and deliberate practice through modelling. It is designed as a process, not a product: the goal is to develop awareness of methodological conventions and reflective practice that grows, over time, into strong and transferable competence.

Template → Decode → Mirror → Adjust Model

Resources

@NewScholar Youtube Channel

https://www.youtube.com/@NewScholars

Herman Aguinis' page

https://www.hermanaguinis.com/pubs.html

One-on-One Resources

Mixed Method Research

Exercise

Journal of Mixed Method Research

Screen the content of Journal of Mixed Method Research: https://journals.sagepub.com/home/mmrLinks to an external site.

Identify your 5 favorite / inspiring articles from this journal.

Some readings

Collins, K. M., Onwuegbuzie, A. J., & Sutton, I. L. (2006). A model incorporating the rationale and purpose for conducting mixed methods research in special education and beyond. Learning disabilities: a contemporary journal, 4(1), 67-100.
Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2017). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage publications.
Duriau, V. J., Reger, R. K., & Pfarrer, M. D. (2007). A content analysis of the content analysis literature in organization studies: Research themes, data sources, and methodological refinements. Organizational research methods, 10(1), 5-34.
Greene, J. C., Caracelli, V. J., & Graham, W. F. (1989). Toward a conceptual framework for mixed-method evaluation designs. Educational evaluation and policy analysis, 11(3), 255-274.
Johnson, R. B., Onwuegbuzie, A. J., & Turner, L. A. (2007). Toward a definition of mixed methods research. Journal of mixed methods research, 1(2), 112-133.
McKenny, A. F., Aguinis, H., Short, J. C., & Anglin, A. H. (2018). What doesn’t get measured does exist: Improving the accuracy of computer-aided text analysis. Journal of Management, 44(7), 2909-2933.
Srnka, K. J., & Koeszegi, S. T. (2007). From words to numbers: how to transform qualitative data into meaningful quantitative results. Schmalenbach Business Review, 59(1), 29-57.
Tashakkori, A., & Creswell, J. W. (2008). Mixed methodology across disciplines. Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 2 (1), 3–6.
Teddlie, C., & Tashakkori, A. (2003). Major issues and controversies in the use of mixed methods in the social and behavioral sciences. In C. Teddlie & A. Tashakkori (Eds.), Handbook of Mixed Methods in Social and Behavioral Research. Thousands Oaks, CA: Sage.

Control Variables

Quick note and references here.

Structural Equation Modeling

Free Online Course (11h): https://www.udemy.com/course/conceptual-foundations-of-pls-path-modeling/

Multilevel Research

Köhler, T. (2024). Multilevel qualitative research: Insights from practice. European Management Journal, 42(4), 503-514.
Molina-Azorín, J. F., Pereira-Moliner, J., López-Gamero, M. D., Pertusa-Ortega, E. M., & José Tarí, J. (2020). Multilevel research: Foundations and opportunities in management. BRQ Business Research Quarterly, 23(4), 319-333.
Hernaus, T., Potočnik, K., Lira, E. M., & LeBreton, J. M. (2024). Multilevel empirical research: A call for more mixed-methods approaches. European Management Journal, 42(4), 452-461.
Headley, M. G., & Plano Clark, V. L. (2020). Multilevel mixed methods research designs: Advancing a refined definition. Journal of mixed methods research, 14(2), 145-163.
Preacher, K. J., Zyphur, M. J., & Zhang, Z. (2010). A general multilevel SEM framework for assessing multilevel mediation. Psychological methods, 15(3), 209.
Preacher, K. J., Zhang, Z., & Zyphur, M. J. (2011). Alternative methods for assessing mediation in multilevel data: The advantages of multilevel SEM. Structural equation modeling, 18(2), 161-182.
Aguinis, H., Gottfredson, R. K., & Culpepper, S. A. (2013). Best-practice recommendations for estimating cross-level interaction effects using multilevel modeling. Journal of Management, 39(6), 1490-1528.
Aguinis, H., & Molina-Azorín, J. F. (2015). Using multilevel modeling and mixed methods to make theoretical progress in microfoundations for strategy research. Strategic Organization, 13(4), 353-364.