Abstract
With growing scholarly interest in qualitative research in organizational studies, a critical challenge lies in navigating through qualitative data pertaining to silence and the unspoken in interviews or observations. Even though there is scant yet relevant attention in the organizational and psychotherapy literatures, how qualitative researchers, especially early-career ones, should make sense of the type of data has yet to receive methodological exploration or discussions. In this instructional symposium, a new format at RM Division, we bring together worldwide qualitative scholars to share their experiences and insights into how they have handled and managed silence and the unspoken in potentially stigmatized or sensitive contexts. In addition to a panel discussion facilitated by the organizers, participants will join roundtables and discuss how to analyze, theorize, and present data on silence and the unspoken for theory building. We aim to provide both theoretical and practical insights into being aware of and making good use of data on silence and the unspoken for interested qualitative researchers.