Methods as Critical Junctures Research Logics For Interpretive Qualitative Inquiry Annette Markham Aarhus University May 9, 2011

The Saturated Self Homo Narrans Interpretive Sociology Distributed Identity Ethnography Individualized Realities Symbolic Interactionism Organizational Studies Fabrication as Ethical Practice Erving Goffman Karl Weick Michel Foucault Howard Becker, Norm Denzin Kenneth Gergen

“we have to decide fairly soon what it is we as humans ought to become, because we’re on the brink of having the power of creating any experience we desire” (Rheingold, 1991) “ It will deeply change politics, culture, and the fabric of society—if not, indeed, the very metaphysics of human existence” (Wright, 1994) “Virtuality through computer mediated communication announces the end of the body, the apocalypse of corporeal subjectivity” (Keeps, 1995) Early 1990s

“Who should I accept as a friend? Everyone I know or just people I like?” (U.S. teen talking about Facebook) “What role does social media play in protest movements, like Egypt or Wisconsin?” (everyone) Should I be angry or try to sue people for spreading my photography all over the internet or just be glad I was noticed? (Noam Galai) “How can musicians engage their fans through social media?” (Nancy Baym) 2011

Ubiquitous Internet Increased convergence Always On, Always Connected Extensive networks of personal connection Multiple interfaces for experiencing information Culture 21. c

Are methods of sensemaking adequate? Are our methods still protecting participants? Why is there (still) a persistent cry for accuracy and truth? Are we afraid to take risks in methods?

Borrow Interrogate Move Play Generate

Method is never monolithic. Or static. Quality is about reflexivity, not universality. Methods are ethical and political choices. …With consequence.

Phenomenon questions actions exploration collecting managing categorizing interpreting writing The Answer TEXTS …or objects that function as texts, in that they can be “read.”

Phenomenon questions actions exploration collecting managing categorizing interpreting writing The Answer Phenomenon Filtered Through one’s Situated worldview whereby meaning is Framed Edited, Refined and (re) presented An Impression

Methods = Choices Hopefully, more like decisions than habits.

method decision action

? ? ? ? ? ?

Decision Points Critical Junctures Generating Questions Determining field boundaries Accessing Participants Sorting and filtering ‘data’ Collecting Information Analyzing ‘texts’ Representing self and other in report Identifying objects of analysis Sorting into general themes Discarding information Interpreting findings Framing Knowledge for the audience.

Object of inquiry What Why How Where When Who Object of Inquiry

Object of inquiry What is the phenomenon? What are we choosing as the point of analysis? Why do it? Whose interests does this study serve? What is our goal? How are we conceptualizing? How are we approaching? Where are we located and why does that matter? Where is the study situated? When are we doing research? Who are the agents/actants, beyond the obvious? Who are we? Object of Inquiry

Object of inquiry Object of Analysis? Semiotics Symbolic interactionism Social Constructionism Performance Theory Organizational sensemaking Communication as Ritual Rhetorical Theory Actor Network Where are we coming from? Structuration Grounded Theory Etc., etc.

Object of inquiry Object of Analysis? Intersecting Contexts Multiple Epistemologies Intertextuality Ontology of Relationships and Connections Processes in which entities are situated Myth of Universalism Fictive dimension of research findings Discursive Construction Complexity of the process of Interpretation Polysemy Interpretive aspect of all knowledge Power/Knowledge

Object of inquiry Object of Analysis? Follow the People Follow the Plot, Story, or Allegory Follow the Life or Biography Follow the Thing Follow the metaphor Follow the opposites Where are we going? Follow the movement Follow the intersections Follow the between Follow the Conflict Follow the …etc., etc.

Object of inquiry Object of Analysis? MICRO What are we analyzing? Naturally occurring discourse Contrived Discourse (interviews, focus groups) Actions or evidence of actions. Performances. Traces of self Cultural/Social Outcomes Structures, Meaning, Norms, Institutions Objects, Technologies Absence. Silence. Deletions. MACRO

Object of inquiry Object of Analysis? Discourse analysis Conversation Analysis Linguistic Analysis Narrative Analysis Metaphor Analysis Visual Analysis What analytical tools? Etc., etc.

To Describe To Understand To Explain To Predict To Control To Critique To Publish To Prove Yourself To get Funding To get Tenure or Promotion To provide therapy for cultural members Social Justice To create sustainable futures To fix a problem Object of inquiry Object of Analysis? Why?