Balancing acts in qualitative accounting research

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to reflect on the motivation for this special issue and its contributions. Design/methodology/approach - This paper is a conceptual editorial piece which discusses current methodological tendencies in qualitative accounting research. Findings - The paper argues that qualitative research involves some balancing acts between, on the one hand, pragmatic and aesthetic aspects and, on the other, the necessary steps for establishing trust in a particular piece of research. The authors explicate how this is manifest in the contributions to this special issue. Originality/value - This paper highlights the need for greater attention to the many pragmatic aspects associated with qualitative accounting research rarely accounted for in previous texts on the topic.