Foundations of Qualitative Research: Interpretive and Critical Approaches

388 Pages·2007·21.772 MB·English

by  Jerry W. Willis

FOUNDATIONS OF
QUALITATIVE
RESEARCH
FOUNDATIONS OF
QUALITATIVE
RESEARCH
Copyright © 2007 by Sage Publications, Inc.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any
means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information
storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Brief Contents
For information:
Sage Publications Inc.
2455 Teller Road
% Thousand Oaks, California 91320
E-mail: order(gsagepub.com
List of Definitions xiii
Sage Publications Ltd.
1 Oliver's Yard
List of Articles of Interest xv
55 City Road
London EC 1Y ISP
United Kingdom Preface xix
Sage Publications India Pvt. Ltd. Acknowledgments xxiii
B-42, Panchsheel Enclave
Post Box 4109
New Delhi 110 017 India
1. World Views, Paradigms, and the
Printed in the United States of America
Practice of Social Science Research 1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
2. History and Context of Paradigm Development 27
Willis, Jerry, 1942-
Foundations of qualitative research : interpretive and critical approaches /Jerry W Willis. 3. Foundational Issues: Postpositivist and Critical Perspectives 67
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index. 4. History and Foundations of Interpretivist Research 95
ISBN-13: 978-1-4129-2740-6 (cloth)
ISBN-13: 978-1-4129-2741-3 (pbk.) 5- Frameworks for Qualitative Research 147
1. Social sciences—Research. I. Title.
6. General Guidelines for Qualitative Research 185
H62.W537 2007
001.4'2—dc22
7. Methods of Qualitative Research 229
2006027192
8. Approaches to Data Analysis and Interpretation 287
This book is printed on acid-free paper.
9. 21st-century Social Science Research: Peering Into the Future 321
07 08 09 10 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Index 353
Acquisitions Editor. Lisa Cuevas Shaw
Editorial Assistant: Karen Greene
Production Editor: Catherine M. Chilton About the Author 367
Copy Editor: Carol Anne Peschke
Typesetter: C&M Digitals (P) Ltd.
Proofreader: William H. Stoddard
Indexer: Diggs Indexing Services
Cover Designer: Edgar Abarca
Marketing Manager: Stephanie Adams
Copyright © 2007 by Sage Publications, Inc.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any
means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information
storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Brief Contents
For information:
Sage Publications Inc.
2455 Teller Road
% Thousand Oaks, California 91320
E-mail: order(gsagepub.com
List of Definitions xiii
Sage Publications Ltd.
1 Oliver's Yard
List of Articles of Interest xv
55 City Road
London EC 1Y ISP
United Kingdom Preface xix
Sage Publications India Pvt. Ltd. Acknowledgments xxiii
B-42, Panchsheel Enclave
Post Box 4109
New Delhi 110 017 India
1. World Views, Paradigms, and the
Printed in the United States of America
Practice of Social Science Research 1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
2. History and Context of Paradigm Development 27
Willis, Jerry, 1942-
Foundations of qualitative research : interpretive and critical approaches /Jerry W Willis. 3. Foundational Issues: Postpositivist and Critical Perspectives 67
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index. 4. History and Foundations of Interpretivist Research 95
ISBN-13: 978-1-4129-2740-6 (cloth)
ISBN-13: 978-1-4129-2741-3 (pbk.) 5- Frameworks for Qualitative Research 147
1. Social sciences—Research. I. Title.
6. General Guidelines for Qualitative Research 185
H62.W537 2007
001.4'2—dc22
7. Methods of Qualitative Research 229
2006027192
8. Approaches to Data Analysis and Interpretation 287
This book is printed on acid-free paper.
9. 21st-century Social Science Research: Peering Into the Future 321
07 08 09 10 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Index 353
Acquisitions Editor. Lisa Cuevas Shaw
Editorial Assistant: Karen Greene
Production Editor: Catherine M. Chilton About the Author 367
Copy Editor: Carol Anne Peschke
Typesetter: C&M Digitals (P) Ltd.
Proofreader: William H. Stoddard
Indexer: Diggs Indexing Services
Cover Designer: Edgar Abarca
Marketing Manager: Stephanie Adams
Detailed Contents
List of Definitions xiii
List of Articles of Interest xv
Preface xix
Acknowledgments xxiii
1. World Views, Paradigms, and the Practice of
Social Science Research 1
Case 1. Quantitative Research 1
Case 2. Qualitative Research 2
What This Book Is and Is Not About 6
Just What Is a Paradigm? 8
Family Resemblances Within Paradigm Groups 11
Thinking About the Foundations and
Practice of Research 13
What Warrants Our Attention? 15
The Traditional Canon 16
Alternative Paradigms 17
New Techniques or New Paradigms? 19
Summary 22
Questions for Reflection 23
2. History and Context of Paradigm Development 27
Three Paradigms 32
Positivism: A Response to Metaphysical
and Magical Explanations 32
The Middle Ages (330-1450) 33
The Renaissance (1450-1600): The
Beginning of Empiricism 34
The Age of Enlightenment (1600-1800):
Empiricism as a Major Source of Knowledge 36
Detailed Contents
List of Definitions xiii
List of Articles of Interest xv
Preface xix
Acknowledgments xxiii
1. World Views, Paradigms, and the Practice of
Social Science Research 1
Case 1. Quantitative Research 1
Case 2. Qualitative Research 2
What This Book Is and Is Not About 6
Just What Is a Paradigm? 8
Family Resemblances Within Paradigm Groups 11
Thinking About the Foundations and
Practice of Research 13
What Warrants Our Attention? 15
The Traditional Canon 16
Alternative Paradigms 17
New Techniques or New Paradigms? 19
Summary 22
Questions for Reflection 23
2. History and Context of Paradigm Development 27
Three Paradigms 32
Positivism: A Response to Metaphysical
and Magical Explanations 32
The Middle Ages (330-1450) 33
The Renaissance (1450-1600): The
Beginning of Empiricism 34
The Age of Enlightenment (1600-1800):
Empiricism as a Major Source of Knowledge 36
Critical Theory: A Response to Inequities in Society 44 Hermeneutics 104
What Did Marxism Respond To? 44 Phenomenology (and Existentialism) 107
The Frankfurt School: The Beginnings Acceptable Methods and Data 109
of Critical Theory 47 Meaning of Data 111
Interpretivism: A Response to the Excesses Relationship of Research to Practice 117
of "Scientific" Social Science 48 Implications of an Interpretivist Approach 122
The Response to Objectivism: Interpretivism 51 What Sorts of Research Are Worthwhile? 131
The Rise of Verstehen and Hermeneutics in Examples of Interpretive Research 132
the Social Sciences 53 Summaiy 139
The Special Cases of Postmodernism and Feminism 54 Questions for Reflection 141
Postmodernism 54
. Frameworks for Qualitative Research 147
Feminist Theory and Research 57
Summary 60 Postpositivist Research 147
Questions for Reflection 61 Moments of Qualitative Research 150
The Traditional Period (Early 1900s-World War II) 151
3. Foundational Issues: Postpositivist and Critical Perspectives 67
The Modernist Phase (1940s-1970s) 152
Social Science Research: The View From Blurred Genres (1970s-1986) 152
the Postpositivist Paradigm 72 Crisis of Representation (Mid-1980s) 153
The Foundations of Postpositivist Research 74 A Triple Crisis (Today) 154
Nature of Reality 74 The Fifth or Postmodern Moment 155
Purpose of Research 75 The Sixth or Postexperimental
Acceptable Methods and Data 76 Inquiry Moment (1995-2000) 155
Meaning of Data 77 The Seventh or Methodologically
Relationship of Research to Practice 78 Contested Moment (2000-2004) 156
Examples of Postpositivist Research 78 The Eighth Moment: Methodological
Social Science Research: The View Backlash (2005-?) 156
From the Critical Theory Paradigm 81 Some General Frameworks for Qualitative Research 158
Nature of Reality 83 Altheide and fohnson 's Analytic Realism 158
Purpose of Research 84 Denzin and Lincoln's Interpretive Perspective 160
Acceptable Methods and Data 86 Eisner's Connoisseurship Model of Inquiry 162
Meaning of Data 86 Coherence 166
Relationship of Research to Practice 87 Consensus 166
Examples of Critical Research 87 Instrumental Utility 167
Summary 91 Insightfulness 167
Questions for Reflection 91 Semiotics 168
The Phenomenological Psychological
4. History and Foundations of Interpretivist Research 95
Model (and Structuralism) 111
Nature of Reality 95
Poststructuralism and Postmodernism 174
Purpose of Research 98
Symbolic Interactionism 176
Verstehen 100
Summary 181
Questions for Reflection 181
Critical Theory: A Response to Inequities in Society 44 Hermeneutics 104
What Did Marxism Respond To? 44 Phenomenology (and Existentialism) 107
The Frankfurt School: The Beginnings Acceptable Methods and Data 109
of Critical Theory 47 Meaning of Data 111
Interpretivism: A Response to the Excesses Relationship of Research to Practice 117
of "Scientific" Social Science 48 Implications of an Interpretivist Approach 122
The Response to Objectivism: Interpretivism 51 What Sorts of Research Are Worthwhile? 131
The Rise of Verstehen and Hermeneutics in Examples of Interpretive Research 132
the Social Sciences 53 Summaiy 139
The Special Cases of Postmodernism and Feminism 54 Questions for Reflection 141
Postmodernism 54
. Frameworks for Qualitative Research 147
Feminist Theory and Research 57
Summary 60 Postpositivist Research 147
Questions for Reflection 61 Moments of Qualitative Research 150
The Traditional Period (Early 1900s-World War II) 151
3. Foundational Issues: Postpositivist and Critical Perspectives 67
The Modernist Phase (1940s-1970s) 152
Social Science Research: The View From Blurred Genres (1970s-1986) 152
the Postpositivist Paradigm 72 Crisis of Representation (Mid-1980s) 153
The Foundations of Postpositivist Research 74 A Triple Crisis (Today) 154
Nature of Reality 74 The Fifth or Postmodern Moment 155
Purpose of Research 75 The Sixth or Postexperimental
Acceptable Methods and Data 76 Inquiry Moment (1995-2000) 155
Meaning of Data 77 The Seventh or Methodologically
Relationship of Research to Practice 78 Contested Moment (2000-2004) 156
Examples of Postpositivist Research 78 The Eighth Moment: Methodological
Social Science Research: The View Backlash (2005-?) 156
From the Critical Theory Paradigm 81 Some General Frameworks for Qualitative Research 158
Nature of Reality 83 Altheide and fohnson 's Analytic Realism 158
Purpose of Research 84 Denzin and Lincoln's Interpretive Perspective 160
Acceptable Methods and Data 86 Eisner's Connoisseurship Model of Inquiry 162
Meaning of Data 86 Coherence 166
Relationship of Research to Practice 87 Consensus 166
Examples of Critical Research 87 Instrumental Utility 167
Summary 91 Insightfulness 167
Questions for Reflection 91 Semiotics 168
The Phenomenological Psychological
4. History and Foundations of Interpretivist Research 95
Model (and Structuralism) 111
Nature of Reality 95
Poststructuralism and Postmodernism 174
Purpose of Research 98
Symbolic Interactionism 176
Verstehen 100
Summary 181
Questions for Reflection 181
6. General Guidelines for Qualitative Research 185 Historical Research and Paradigms 252
Guidelines for Qualitative Research 188 Historiography: The Research Methods of History 259
Situated or Contextual Understanding, Part II. Innovative Methods: Participatory
Not Truth, Is the Purpose of Research 188 Qualitative Research 260
Accept Multiple Sources of Influence 191 Cooperative Inquiry 262
Expect Multiple Perspectives and Seek Them 192 Participatory Action Research 264
Take a Foundational Rather Than Technique Perspective 195 Postpositivist Action Research 265
Practice Recursive (Iterative) and Emergent Interpretivist Action Research 267
Data Collection and Analysis 200 Critical-Emancipatory Action Research 269
Use Multiple Sources of Data 203 Ways of Doing Action Research 269
Think of Research as a Reflective Process-. The Researcher Participatory and Conslructivist Instructional Design 271
Is the Primary Tool for Data Collection and Analysis 203 Recursive (Iterative), Nonlinear Design 272
Emphasize Participatory Research 206 Reflection 273
Adopt an Open Approach 209 Emancipatory Research 21A
Deal With Bias Directly 210 Critical Emancipatory Action Research 277
Select Natural Contexts for Research 211 Summary 278
Research Should Be Holistic, Not Atomistic 211 Questions for Reflection 279
Research Involves More Than Induction and Deduction:
8. Approaches to Data Analysis and Interpretation 287
Analogical Reasoning, Abduction, and
Purpose of Research 288
Family Resemblances 213
General Theory 288
Alternatives to Postpositivist Criteria for
local Theory 291
Believability: Validity and Reliability 216
Objective Description 292
Alternative Approaches to Validity and
Hermeneutic (Verstehen) Understanding 293
Reliability: Triangulation and More 218
Storytelling and Narrative 295
Alternatives to Triangulation 220
Data Analysis Families 297
Conclusions? Aren't They Generalizations? 222
Eyeballing the Data 298
Summary 224
Connoisseurship: A Global Perspective 300
Questions for Reflection 224
Hermeneutics as a Data Analysis Method 301
7. Methods of Qualitative Research 229 Grounded Theory 306
Case 1: Action Research on a Pediatric Surgical Ward 229 Analytic Induction 310
Part I. Established Qualitative Research Methods 232 The Ethics of Research 311
Summary 316
Ethnography 233
An Ethnographic Case (Herodotus, 5th Century в.CE.) 233 Questions for Reflection 318
General Framework for Ethnographic Research 236
9. 21st-century Social Science Research:
Case Studies: Another Form of Qualitative Observation 238
Peering Into the Future 321
General Framework of Case Studies 240
Will the Cacophony Continue? 322
Variations in Case Study Research 242
Why Can't Social Science Converge on the Answer? 323
Interview Research 244
Dialog as an Alternative to Competition 326
Historiography 247
Three Approaches to Knowing in Greek Thought 327
Case 2: Racial Gerrymandering in Cincinnati 247
Accepting Plato, Aristotle, and the Humanities:
Case 3: Black Participation in South African Policymaking 249
There Is Absolute Truth 328
6. General Guidelines for Qualitative Research 185 Historical Research and Paradigms 252
Guidelines for Qualitative Research 188 Historiography: The Research Methods of History 259
Situated or Contextual Understanding, Part II. Innovative Methods: Participatory
Not Truth, Is the Purpose of Research 188 Qualitative Research 260
Accept Multiple Sources of Influence 191 Cooperative Inquiry 262
Expect Multiple Perspectives and Seek Them 192 Participatory Action Research 264
Take a Foundational Rather Than Technique Perspective 195 Postpositivist Action Research 265
Practice Recursive (Iterative) and Emergent Interpretivist Action Research 267
Data Collection and Analysis 200 Critical-Emancipatory Action Research 269
Use Multiple Sources of Data 203 Ways of Doing Action Research 269
Think of Research as a Reflective Process-. The Researcher Participatory and Conslructivist Instructional Design 271
Is the Primary Tool for Data Collection and Analysis 203 Recursive (Iterative), Nonlinear Design 272
Emphasize Participatory Research 206 Reflection 273
Adopt an Open Approach 209 Emancipatory Research 21A
Deal With Bias Directly 210 Critical Emancipatory Action Research 277
Select Natural Contexts for Research 211 Summary 278
Research Should Be Holistic, Not Atomistic 211 Questions for Reflection 279
Research Involves More Than Induction and Deduction:
8. Approaches to Data Analysis and Interpretation 287
Analogical Reasoning, Abduction, and
Purpose of Research 288
Family Resemblances 213
General Theory 288
Alternatives to Postpositivist Criteria for
local Theory 291
Believability: Validity and Reliability 216
Objective Description 292
Alternative Approaches to Validity and
Hermeneutic (Verstehen) Understanding 293
Reliability: Triangulation and More 218
Storytelling and Narrative 295
Alternatives to Triangulation 220
Data Analysis Families 297
Conclusions? Aren't They Generalizations? 222
Eyeballing the Data 298
Summary 224
Connoisseurship: A Global Perspective 300
Questions for Reflection 224
Hermeneutics as a Data Analysis Method 301
7. Methods of Qualitative Research 229 Grounded Theory 306
Case 1: Action Research on a Pediatric Surgical Ward 229 Analytic Induction 310
Part I. Established Qualitative Research Methods 232 The Ethics of Research 311
Summary 316
Ethnography 233
An Ethnographic Case (Herodotus, 5th Century в.CE.) 233 Questions for Reflection 318
General Framework for Ethnographic Research 236
9. 21st-century Social Science Research:
Case Studies: Another Form of Qualitative Observation 238
Peering Into the Future 321
General Framework of Case Studies 240
Will the Cacophony Continue? 322
Variations in Case Study Research 242
Why Can't Social Science Converge on the Answer? 323
Interview Research 244
Dialog as an Alternative to Competition 326
Historiography 247
Three Approaches to Knowing in Greek Thought 327
Case 2: Racial Gerrymandering in Cincinnati 247
Accepting Plato, Aristotle, and the Humanities:
Case 3: Black Participation in South African Policymaking 249
There Is Absolute Truth 328