As economic diplomacy is situated at the intersection of international relations, economics and political economy, its study involves a broad spectrum of methodologically complex research methods, bridging theoretical and empirical approaches to capture the complexities of this field. Scholars have been using quantitative research methods in an attempt to expose its micro and macro impact and qualitative methods in order to contribute to a deeper understanding of its processes, framework or actors and their actions. Therefore, by focusing on the scientific papers, the purpose of this study is to explore the qualitative research methods used in the study of economic diplomacy, with the aim of identifying the methodological trends, common techniques and key themes present in the studies on this topic. Undoubtedly, the literature reveals the methodological pluralism in capturing the multifaceted character of economic diplomacy and in this context, the relevance of this study stems from its coverage of the qualitative methods that underpin current research in this field.