Edgar H. Schein`s Clinical Research: A study on Organizational Culture Between the Methodology of Psychology, Sociology, and Anthropology

Abstract

Edgar H Schein`s approach is one of the most commonly quoted concepts of organizational culture. In it, he recognized organizational culture functionally, interpretatively, and dynamically, pointing to its complexity and multi-levelness. Schein also presented an original method of studying organizational culture, one called clinical research (CR). The authors of this paper discuss the clinical research method and indicate the scope of methodological solutions shared between CR and psychological diagnosis, sociological intervention, and ethnography. The search for support (from the researcher) and the requirement to involve members of the organization are the elements linking CR with psychological diagnosis. As is the case with the sociological intervention of Alain Touraine, CR uses own concepts of the subjects based on their reflectiveness and acceptance of the key findings. And, finally, similarly to ethnography, CR treats each organization as a separate case and sensitizes researchers to permanently build a relationship with their respondents. Therefore, among organizational research procedures, using CR for organizational culture research is a unique example of integrating research methods from within social sciences and the humanities.