Qualitative Research in North American Journals: A Promising Trajectory and an Invitation

SYNOPSIS This perspectives article reflects on fostering an informed and diverse ecosystem in qualitative accounting research, with a particular focus on promoting openness to qualitative research in North American accounting journals. Drawing on personal accounts, discussions with editors, extant literature, and published research, we offer suggestions that collectively aim to help qualitative accounting research thrive. We highlight the significant investment required for informed qualitative research and provide guidance for those new to this landscape, urging North American business schools to allocate space for qualitative research and researchers. While acknowledging positive trends in publishing qualitative research, we recognize the need for additional progress and call for increasing diversity, drawing on the critical paradigm, and promoting a broader use of methods such as focus groups, vignettes, observations, case studies, and (net)ethnographies across all paradigms. These suggestions have implications for the broader qualitative research community and, importantly, for publishing in North American accounting journals. Data Availability: Data are available upon request from the authors.