Cultural Psychology and Qualitative Methodology: Theoretical and Empirical Considerations (Path in Psychology)

Qualitative methodologies in cultural psychology often lack the objective and verifiable character of quantitative analysis. Author Carl Ratner corrects this shortcoming by rigorously systematizing qualitative methods. The book discusses, for example, means of systematizing such subjective reports as interviews, letters, and diaries, which often yield valuable data that is not easily quantified. Ratner argues that "complex psychological phenomena are expressed through extended responses" and hence are best studied by new, more regularized qualitative methods that go beyond measuring simple, overt responses. Front Matter....Pages i-xiii Introduction....Pages 1-11 Shortcomings of Positivistic Methodology for Researching Cultural Psychology....Pages 13-52 Principles of Qualitative Methodology for Psychology....Pages 53-92 The Cultural Character of Psychology....Pages 93-121 Qualitative Methodology for Describing the Cultural Character of Psychology....Pages 123-177 Qualitative Cultural Psychological Methodology and Science....Pages 179-230 Sociopolitical Underpinnings of Positivism and Qualitative Cultural Psychological Methodology....Pages 231-243 Back Matter....Pages 245-262