Atrapos.eu » Methodology

Liamputtong (2008) on cross-cultural research

atrapos — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 12:19:45 +0000

I discovered this very interesting book which is available for me to read online via my library access:

Liamputtong, P. (ed.) (2008) Doing Cross-cultural research: Ethical and Methodological Perspectives. Springer Netherlands: Social Indicators Research Series (vol.34)

some featured chapters for me to read are:

Language and Communication in Cross-Cultural Qualitative Research by Monique M. Hennink

The Researcher as Insider Versus the Researcher as Outsider: Enhancing Rigour Through Language and Cultural Sensitivity by Fiona Irvine, Gwerfyl Roberts and Caroline Bradbury-Jones

Decolonised Methodologies in Cross-Cultural Research by April Vannini and Coreen Gladue

Refining the Occupation of Research Across Cultures

more on methodology

atrapos — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 18:31:05 +0000

Meaning-Making Lenses in Counselling:Discursive, Hermeneutic-Phenomenological, and Autoethnographic Perspectives
Article from: Canadian Journal of Counselling
Article date: April 1, 2008
Author: Strong, Tom; Pyle, Nathan R; Devries, Cecile; Johnston, Dawn N; Foskett, Allison J

ABSTRACT

Counselling can be seen as a context or process for meaning-making where clients and counsellors actively interpret and construct meaning. We examine meaning-making in counselling through the lenses of three research methods: (a) discourse analysis, (b) hermeneutic-phenomenology, and (c) autoethnography. Specifically, we relate the process and experience of counselling in ways consistent with how meaning-making is regarded by each of these research methods. In this regard, we describe each method as if it was a counselling theory. We conclude by reflecting upon how these lenses on meaning-making and counselling can inform counselling practice generally and generatively.

On Narrative Inquiry (Webster & Mertova, 2007)

atrapos — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 19:37:11 +0000

In my data collection phase, i interviewed immigrant therapists who share with me their stories. It seems that the narrative inquiry approach to research is relevant to my research and thought it is good to inform my thinking with reading a bit of up-to-date literature about it. I found this excellent book:

Webster, L. and Mertova P. (2007) Using Narrative Inquiry as a research method: an introduction to using critical event narrative analysis in research on teaching and learning. London: Routledge

I am recording some quotes below that i could use in my Thesis: (more…)

modernism-postmodernism

atrapos — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 19:12:46 +0000

Modernism and postmodernism might be characterised as the two major forces of philosophical thought that have influenced and continue to influence the changes in thinking in research methods. Modernism is associated with the scientific understanding of truth and knowledge, claiming that there is one ultimate, objective truth; and postmodernism relates to the human-centred holistic perspective, maintaining that there are subjective, multiple truths (Webster & Mertova, 2007: 11)

why not quantitative methodology

atrapos — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 10:17:08 +0000

When i come to write my methodology chapter, i will need to argue FOR choosing qualitative research versus quantitative. I found this useful quote that argues why quantitative methods wouldnt be as appropriate for my research. It is in Webster, L. and Mertova P. (2007) Using Narrative Inquiry as a research method: an introduction to using critical event narrative analysis in research on teaching and learning. London: Routledge. Here it is: (more…)

Self-disclosure during interviewing

atrapos — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 12:25:25 +0000

Something i have been wrestling with in relation to what happens when am interviewing my research participants has been the fact that often the interviewee cannot access easily the tacit or probably unconscious insights in relation to the experience that is exlored and we are often both left frustrated by ‘not having the words’ for something that is otherwise intuitivelly felt. when discussing with Colin the other day, he confirmed that this is very common, to his experience also, when researching cultural identity etc, it is something so deeply rooted within, with so many layers that is is not easily accessed.

During some interviews, i realised that if i disclose some of my own personal experiences and insights around what am asking, then the interviewee may identify some of that within and unfold their own story. (more…)

methodology references

atrapos — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 12:07:46 +0000

a colleague of mine sent me some good references for qualitative research, i need to make some time space to look at them. I record them here: (more…)

PhD Thesis Size

atrapos — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 19:06:29 +0000

During my last tutorial with my research supervisor, i was given a rough estimate of the different sections that form a qualitative Phd Thesis, this is something useful to keep in mind and i realise that although am still at the data collection stage, it is good to start writing draft chapters instead of leaving the whole thing to the end, which might end up quite overwhelming amongst anticipating that life still happens and there are unpreditable factors that might take up time. So, here are the average estimates that can lead to a 55-88.000 words thesis: (more…)

Duncan on Autoethnography

atrapos — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 13:59:46 +0000

here is a new interesting article discovered (click) – Autoethnography: Critical appreciation of an emerging art by Margot Duncan

Paper on thematic analysis

atrapos — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 13:11:23 +0000

I was sent an interesting article about thematic analysis that i shall definitelly look at and use it as i will be working on the interview transcripts. Here is the reference, before i forget!
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77-101.

Researcher Reflexivity (paper by Finlay, 2002)

atrapos — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 14:38:27 +0000

I was sent a very thought provoking paper by Ann about reflexivity which triggered my thinking again about the Phd process and the writings am doing at the moment for my two conference presentations in India and Cardiff this year. I am aware of the waves of resistance that come out of me at every stage of the research, sth that seems to be justified by personal regression resulting from my intense involvement with the topic, as suggested also in this article by Finlay (2002) “Outing” the Researcher: The Provenance, Process, and Practice of Reflexivity (see full article here) (more…)

Reading “Reflexivity” (by Finlay & Gough, 2003)

atrapos — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 20:55:21 +0000

I have been reading this excellent book: Finlay, L. & Gough, B. (2003) Reflexivity: a practical guide for Researchers in Health and Social Sciences. Oxford: Blackwell. As the authors state this book is about how to do reflexivity in practice.The concept and application of reflexivity is a central theme in my research journey given that i could be one of the research participants myself and wanting to be transparent and open towards the meaning making process taking place during the whole process. Before i return the book to the library, i want to record a few quotes that am sure will enrich my future writings: (more…)

Phenomenology v. Heuristics

atrapos — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 13:37:28 +0000

As I am reading and writing about research methodology, i have been having an onlinse discussion with Ann and William about the whole debate around pehnomenology and heuristic research (where the stances, boundaries are etc). I wrote: So, here I am with two concepts of GREEK etymology: Phenomenology and Heuristic…bloody Greeks again ? (more…)

Linking research questions to interview questions

atrapos — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 22:21:15 +0000

I have been feeling very frustrated today with trying to phrase both research and interview questions in a ‘corresponding’ manner….i guess i have left the topic too broad, involnving many variable that are not visible from the beginning until one attempts to narrow things down in the ‘how to do’ phase…I feel that this has been my difficulty from the beginning of the year: i wasnt clear as to what is my focus and what to ask participants so i have been collecting some data ‘in blind’, going with the flow…I have mentioned this to my supervisor before and he said that in heuristics, you dont necessarily need a question or questions but an ‘area’ of study is enough, especially if it is exploratory…..BUT…this leads me in chaos,i constantly feel that i ‘do not know what I am doing’ and i can see now that this chaos will be increasing…and imagine what will happen at the data analysis stage where i will have large ammount of data…if it is not ’structured’ in some ways, i do not think i will manage ever to identify common themes and patterns…..i need more detail and clarity otherwise i do noyt feel i can manage (more…)

The research Interviewer as a Traveler (Kvale, 1996)

atrapos — Thu, 31 May 2007 00:34:56 +0000

After so many prompts from my supervisor I starter reading again an excellent book: Kvale, S. (1996) InterViews: An Introduction to Qualitative Research Interviewing. London: Sage…what an excellent companion really! I found this metaphor of the ‘interviewer as traveler’ ( in contrast to the metaphor of interviewer as miner)in there which so much fits with my research topic. Kvale writes (p. 4-5): (more…)

research ‘terminology’ and about ‘data saturation’: How many interviews are enough?

atrapos — Wed, 23 May 2007 16:43:32 +0000

talking about methodology and method, i shall once again quote my greek ancestors and give the etymology of the word: Method (from Greek methodos or met hodos meaning “way across”). so, this is again a path, a journey, a ‘mobile’ force….including some sort of travelling…

today, when in tutorial with William, i learned a few new terms of ‘research terminology’ that is useful to know,also for my review panel coming up (for example: saturation, snowballing etc). I also wrestle with the question: How many participants are enough? (more…)

Methodology: positivism v. postmodern thinking

atrapos — Tue, 22 May 2007 13:43:31 +0000

As the review panel approaches, i know that one of the maain points i will be asked to defend will be the cloice of methodological chance in relation to the research. I have read so many things around methodology during the past couple of years in particular. Earlier today i was reading a chapter by Colin Feltham titled “The Therapist as Researcher and Inquirer” cited in the Handbook of Counselling and Psychotherapy (2000, London : Sage) by Feltham and Horton and fond some useful quotes worthe recording for later use: (more…)

Reading:Autoethnography (Sage Handbook)

atrapos — Fri, 18 May 2007 16:24:17 +0000

I picked up the Sage Handbook of Qualitative Research (3rd edition) by Denzin, N., K. and Lincoln, Y., S. (2005) and read the chapter Autoethnography: Making the Personal Political by Stacy Holman Jones. I think it is a powerful text but did tire me out after a while, especially when going into the ‘performance’ bit. I was expecting to fid more abroudn reflexivity and positioning the researcher’s own story into the research, sth that I am exploring in my own study but this paper wasnt written in that sort of way. However, i found some interesting quotes that i think i shall record for future possible use in my own writings. Here they are: (more…)

Kvale on Interviewing

atrapos — Sat, 12 May 2007 10:10:28 +0000

A fellow researcher, S., has shared her thoughts around analysing qualitative interviews, drawn from reading Kvale’s book. She wrote on 6.5.07: (more…)

Dori on Autoethnography

atrapos — Thu, 10 May 2007 13:24:09 +0000

Given that whichever angle or path i follow during the research process, i have personal stories involved that reveal aspects of the inquiry and are ‘data’ themselves, i am looking for readings on autoethnography which comes into the ‘methodology discussion’. W. sent me an extract from D’s thesis that talks about that, i need to look at the references and relate the whole concept and method to my own study (more…)