How can we better connect data, methods, and theory when studying complex management phenomena?
At the 2026 Academy of Management Annual Meeting, our PDW
"Connecting Data, Methods, and Theory in an Era of Complexity"
will explore how emerging methodological approaches can support stronger theory development, refinement, and evaluation.
The workshop will introduce and connect four methodological frontiers:
• Causal machine learning for examining heterogeneous and nonlinear effects
• Configurational approaches for theorizing equifinality, asymmetry, and conjunctural causation from big data
• Multiverse analysis for assessing robustness and identifying boundary conditions
• Large language models for abductive discovery, pattern detection, and theory building
Through methodological sessions and an integrative panel, we will discuss how data-driven and theory-driven approaches can be combined without losing sight of explanation, transparency, inference, ethics, and theoretical contribution.
The final part of the PDW consists of developmental roundtables. Participants can bring an emerging idea, dissertation project, work in progress, or a specific challenge related to aligning their theory, data, and methods. Projects do not need to be completed studies-the purpose is to help participants sharpen their research design and theoretical contribution through hands-on feedback.
The workshop brings together Don Bergh, Paul Bliese, Beyers Louw, Aaron McKenny, Madeleine Meurer, and Ernest O'Boyle.
It is also possible to attend only the methodological presentations and panel discussion without submitting a project.
📅 2 August 2026
🕘 9:00–12:00
📍 Marriott, Room 414, Level 4 | Philadelphia
For those interested in joining the developmental roundtables, we have extended the submission deadline to:
19 July 2026, 23:59 CEST
Submission length: 300–500 words
Submit here: https://forms.gle/2rcSVhDkTHEWQNDT9
Organizers: Madeleine Meurer and Beyers Louw
Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam
------------------------------
Madeleine Meurer
Assistant Professor of Digital Entrepreneurship and Societal Change
Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University
Email:
meurer@rsm.nlLinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/madeleine-meurer/------------------------------