Discursive institutionalism as a research framework: result from a systematic literature review

Marek Ćwiklicki () and Anna Mirzyńska ()
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Marek Ćwiklicki: Krakow University of Economics
Anna Mirzyńska: Krakow University of Economics

Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, 2025, vol. 59, issue 4, No 1, 2960 pages

Abstract: Abstract This paper focuses on one of the recent theoretical contributions to the analysis of public policies: discursive institutionalism (DI). It aims to define elements of research approaches for empirical papers that refer to DI. We answer two main questions: How is DI used as a research framework? Moreover, how do researchers describe their research methodology? We examined 103 articles published between 2008 and 2020 and applied the analytical criteria in line with a systematic literature review. Based onthe data synthesis, we formulated suggestions for building a strong foundation for the research methodology for DI. We observe that researchers who undertake such studies also originate from these countries. Moreover, the manner of using DI differs. Despite the recommendation to include ideas, discourse, and actors, among others, simultaneously in this field of study, researchers tend to emphasise only one or two aspects. The paper contributes by providing a systematisation of knowledge about research methodologies related to DI, identifying the most frequently used methods, pinpointing their suitability to a research topic (subject), presenting the style of thedescription of the research methodology section (which is missing for certain papers) and highlighting the co-occurrence of DI with other research methodologies. The results are expected to help formulate guidelines for enhancing methodological rigourregarding the aspects that should impact the quality of research undertaken within the DI paradigm.

Keywords: Discourse analysis; Discursive institutionalism; Research methodology; Systematic literature review (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1007/s11135-025-02115-9

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