An extra‐memetic empirical methodology to accompany theoretical memetics

Abstract

Purpose: The paper describes the difficulties encountered by researchers who are looking to operationalise theoretical memetics and provides a methodological avenue for studies that can test meme theory.Design/Methodology/Approach: The application of evolutionary theory to organisations is reviewed by critically reflecting on the validity of its truth claims. To focus the discussion a number of applications of meme theory are reviewed to raise specific issues which ought to be the subject of empirical investigation. Subsequently, the empirical studies conducted to date are assessed in terms of the progress made and conclusions for further work are drawn. Findings:The paper finds that the key questions posed by memetic theory have yet to be addressed empirically and that a recurring weakness is the practice of assuming the existence of a replicating unit of culture which has, however, yet to be demonstrated as a valid concept. Therefore, an 'extramemetic' methodology is deemed to be necessary for the development of memetics as a scientific endeavour. Narrative analysis is abducted as an appropriate avenue for the operationalisation of extra-memetic empirical research.Originality/Value: The paper highlights inconsistencies, embedded in much of the memetic literature, which have not previously been recognised and the colloquial nature of the discipline is challenged from a positive but critical perspective. Consequently, the paper develops a rationale for the adoption of a widely recognised social science methodology for memetics which has been absent to date. In proposing narrative orientated research, knowledge concerning memes' validity can be facilitated whilst avoiding the current circularity in memetic truth claims.

A meme‐based research programme for management and organization studies

“…The contributions to memetic MOS demonstrate the novel insights which can be achieved through a foundational and general concept of culture, and they should provide the basis for a cohesive memetic discipline. However, despite previous recognition that the meme has been variably operationalized (Gill, 2012), a lack of consistency remains in terms of how memes are identified as discrete cultural units and the degree to which free decision-making is assumed when invoking memetic replication. We argue that inconsistency related to these factors is likely to sustain the real cultural replicator or gene metaphor dilemma, thereby inhibiting the further adoption of the meme concept and the impact which can be claimed for memetic studies.…”

“…In doing so, MOS scholars can avoid further proliferation of meme definitions and unrecognized assumptions regarding how replication might limit free decisions. Instead, studies should adopt familiar approaches to sociological research and, therefore, useful conventional accounts of phenomena important to the field can be an inherent part of the extra-memetic research programme (Gill, 2012). We briefly discuss each of the four conceptualizations shown in Figure 2 to provide researchers with initial ideas for their reflexive adoption.…”

“…The conceptualization shown in Figure 3 illustrates how the debates in fundamental meme theory can be conceived as a boundary demarcating the realist and metaphorical views of Dawkinsian replication, as it is described in The Selfish Gene (Dawkins, 1976). Extra-memetic research, which avoids unrecognized a priori assumptions during the operationalization of memes and makes judgements about their ontological status part of the findings (Gill, 2012), can evaluate the validity of the alternative meme concepts. Therefore, scholars should reflexively place their operationalization of the meme in one of the four quadrants of Figure 3 and remain aware of the relationship their research has with the real cultural replicator or gene metaphor dilemma.…”

Primary Physical Education

“…Memes are embodied ideas within actions and artefacts which record the action of our life narratives (Czarniawska, 2004). It is within culturally specific narratives that evidence for memes within a field might most reliably be found (Gill, 2012). Tinning (2012) applies a memetic perspective to a cultural narrative of PE, considering why and how certain ideas about the subject develop and spread.…”

Darwinism, organizational evolution and survival: key challenges for future research

“…For example, scholars have recently improved their efforts to consider coevolution as an important theoretical framework for interpreting phenomena in different fields, such as strategic, knowledge and marketing management (Abatecola 2012a(Abatecola , 2014bDantas and Bell 2011;Furnari 2014;Johansson and Kask 2013), entrepreneurship and global sourcing (Bellavitis et al 2014;Koza et al 2011;Lewin and Volberda 2011;Pacheco et al 2010;Najat and Maclean 2013), creativity, innovation and culture (Belussi and Staber 2011;Gatti et al 2015;Gill 2012;Lord 2012;Mazzucato and Tancioni 2008;Price 2012;Vagnani 2012), and urban planning/real estate management (Alexander and Price 2012;Dobson 2012;Dobson and Jorgensen 2015). Moreover, at a theoretical level, some scholars (e.g.…”