Post on 23-Feb-2016
description
Telling a compelling story from research data
Dr Tansy JessopWriters’ Retreat
28 May 2014
Two paradigms…
Scientific - quantitative Control &
experiment Hypothesis
testing Numbers Statistics Technical
instruments Measurement Generalisable to
a wider community
Hypothesis generating Interpretation Researcher as
instrument Words, language,
discourse Detailed understanding Specific environments Interview, case study,
observation
Qualitative
Two interpretive communities (Denzin, 1994)
Tender-minded Tough-minded
Intuitive Emotional Open-ended texts Interpretation as art Personal biases Experimental texts
Hard nosed empiricists
Rational, cognitive Closed texts, system Interpretation as
method Neutrality Traditional texts
Read three examples of raw data:
1) Highlight the phrase that stands out for you in each transcript. Why does it strike you?
2) What can you tell about the context?3) What themes are evident in each
transcript?4) What puzzles or frustrates you?5) Make a list of a few codes for each
segment of data.6) How does this data compare with yours?
I’ve seen nothing
Trauma, dashed hopes, disappointment, frustration, conflict, perseverance
Flesh-and-blood social realities Voice, power, emotion Positioned – research from ‘somewhere’ Research as writing Interviews closer to poetry than
sociological prose
Why poetry?
“Poetry is the shortest emotional distance between two points” (Robert Frost).
Creative Critical
“Thick description” (Clifford Geertz, 1973)
Closer to speech of research participants
Disruptive Active voice Visible author Page turner Risky
Critical detachment Looks neutral and
objective Scientific Conformist Passive voice Invisible hand Yawn Publishable
Qualitative research: Art or science?
Complex issues Detailed contextual analysis Multiple sources of evidence (NSS scores,
module evaluations, focus groups, questionnaires)
Triangulation of data Answers how and why questions
Case Study Research
Look at Case Study Formats A and B. Spend 10 minutes filling in both forms from
the experience of your SF project. What differences do you notice?
TESTA case studies: why they work
Case Studies
“A vital text is not boring – it grips the reader” (Richardson, 1994).
Bridge between art and social science (Diversi, 1993).
Social Science research is always a ‘view from somewhere’ (Diversi 1993).
Develop empathy through narrative and personal stories, through art and creativity within the critical.
Endnotes
ReferencesBehar, R. (1996) The Vulnerable Observer: Anthropology that breaks your heart. Boston. Beacon Press.Denzin, N. (1994) ‘The Art and Politics of Interpretation’ in Handbook of Qual. Research. Calfornia. Sage. 500-515.Diversi, M. (1998) Glimpses of Street Life: Represented Experience through Short Stories. Qualitative Inquiry 4(2) 131-147Jessop and Penny (1999) A story behind a story: developing strategies for making sense of teacher narratives. Int. Journal of Social Research Methodology. 2(3) 213-230.Richardson, L. (1994) ‘Writing: A Method of Inquiry’ in Handbook of Qual. Research. California. Sage. 516-529.