Implication studies: a methodological framework

This article introduces a new label, “a methodological framework for studying implications of a philosophy, a framework, a theory, a model, or an idea for other disciplines or other knowledge areas.” This methodology falls into the category of unobtrusive methodologies. Generally, “implication refers to the conclusion that can be drawn from something although it is not explicitly stated.” This framework is proposed to answer this question: what methodology should a researcher adopt to study the “consequences of,” “influences of,” “applications of, “or “implications of “old and new philosophies, theories, models, or theoretical ideas for his or her field of study? For example, what is the appropriate methodology to answer the following question? What are the “implications of critical realism philosophy” for organization studies? There is a shortfall of methodology to answer the above questions. The author has proposed a methodological framework for such studies. Thus, the author has called this type of study “implication eliciting studies” and marked their methodology as “implication eliciting methodology.” Given the interdisciplinary nature of all fields in social science and humanities, this methodology can play an essential role in producing knowledge underlying those areas. This paper aims to introduce the methodology and discuss philosophical assumptions and stances, inquiry logics, guidelines for practice, and sociopolitical commitments in science.