Methodological considerations in conducting research across gender, 'race', ethnicity and culture: a challenge to context specificity in diversity research methods

Diversity management has been gaining increasing attention, mainly due to the perceived benefits it has been promising to organizations. There have been criticisms however on the manner in which diversity is advocated, presented as a few simple steps helping organizations 'do' diversity. There is a need to engage deeply with the rhetoric of diversity management and the reality of implementing diversity policies and initiatives in organizations. There is an even more urgent need for a better understanding of the methodological issues in conducting research within the diversity management arena. This paper uses recent research on ethnic minority women's career experiences and opportunities in British organizations as a framework within which to discuss methodological considerations in conducting work across gender, 'race', ethnicity and culture, focusing on questions around reflexivity, identity and difference. It was deemed important to place these discussions within a relevant historical and social context, and therefore a discussion on race relations and post-colonialism in Britain is presented. Although the research study cited is UK-based, it is argued here that there is no impediment in transferring the lessons learned to other locations and populations as the methodological issues emerging are of a universal nature. It is contended that conducting research within the diversity management field is context dependable, but the methodological process allows for elements of convergence across locations and populations.