Patterns in Management Research: An Analysis of US American, European and German Approaches

Several studies found significant differences between the US American and European management research. Since these studies included only journals published in English language, particularities of German management research are not taken into consideration. In this study a comparative content analysis of all articles in the leading four US American, European (in English language) and German management journals published in 2000 was conducted. The following items were analyzed: research patterns (theoretical versus empirical; and if empirical, nomothetic or idiographic), purpose and data collection methods, and collaborative behavior of authors (international cooperation, national and cooperation within the same university) in the respective geographic areas. On all these variables, clear differences were found.