Philosophies of Qualitative Research (Understanding Qualitative Research)

This book is about the different philosophical paradigms and ideas that influence qualitative research. Its aim is to discuss and evaluate the ways that philosophical positions inform qualitative research as currently practiced. Unlike other contributions to the field, this book takes a historical perspective and shows how the philosophical ideas have evolved and influenced qualitative research in previous times and today. Today, qualitative researchers often report on their philosophical commitments (if they do so at all) in a separate section of their papers, but this book is written from the perspective that philosophical ideas influence everything in the research process from the first formulation of a research theme to the final reporting of the results. Therefore, it is preferable to highlight how this happens. Philosophy should thus not be thought of as a purely abstract discipline, disconnected from the practicalities of research, but rather as a concrete and pervasive aspect of all qualitative research practices. This book does not provide in-depth treatments of qualitative methods and techniques such as interviewing, document analysis, or participant observation, but rather aims to introduce and discuss the philosophical issues that are relevant regardless of the specific methods employed by qualitative researchers. In Philosophies of Qualitative Research, Svend Brinkmann explores the different philosophical paradigms and ideas that influence qualitative research today. Adopting a historical perspective, this book shows readers exactly how philosophical ideas have evolved and influenced qualitative research in both the past and present. Today, qualitative researchers tend to report on their philosophical commitments in an altogether separate section of their research papers. However, as Philosophies of Qualitative Research asserts, the researcher's philosophical ideas influence everything from the conception of the topic to the final reporting of its results. Therefore, as Brinkmann contends, philosophy should not be thought of as a purely abstract discipline, disconnected from the paracticalities of research, but rather as a concrete and pervasive aspect of all qualitative research pratices. In this book, Brinkmann offers his readers an important introduction and discussion of the philosophical issues that are relevant today, regardless of the specific methods employed by qualitative researchers in the field Book jacket In Philosophies of Qualitative Research , Svend Brinkmann explores the different philosophical paradigms and ideas that influence qualitative research today. Adopting a historical perspective, the book shows readers exactly how philosophical ideas have evolved and influenced qualitative research in both the past and present. Today, qualitative researchers tend to report on their philosophical commitments in an altogether separate section of their research papers. However, as Philosophies of Qualitative Research asserts, the researcher's philosophical ideas influence everything from the conception of the topic to the final reporting of its results. Therefore, philosophy should not be thought of as a purely abstract discipline, disconnected from the practicalities of research, but rather as a concrete and pervasive aspect of all qualitative research practices. In this book, Brinkmann offers readers an important introduction and discussion of the philosophical issues that are relevant today, regardless of the specific methods employed by qualitative researchers in the field. Cover Series Philosophies of Qualitative Research Copyright Contents Preface Acknowledgments Chapter 1 Introduction: Philosophy and Qualitative Research Chapter 2 The Historical Background: Philosophy from the Greeks to the 20th Century Chapter 3 British Philosophies of Qualitative Research: Positivism and Realism Chapter 4 German Philosophies of Qualitative Research: Phenomenology and Hermeneutics Chapter 5 American Philosophies of Qualitative Research: The Pragmatisms Chapter 6 French Philosophies of Qualitative Research: Structuralism and Post-​Structuralism Chapter 7 Global Influences on Qualitative Research: New Philosophies Chapter 8 Discussion References Index Preface -- Introduction: Philosophy And Qualitative Research -- The Historical Background : Philosophy From The Greeks To The 20th Century -- British Philosophies Of Qualitative Research : Positivism And Realism -- German Philosophies Of Qualitative Research : Phenomenology And Hermeneutics -- American Philosophies Of Qualitative Research : The Pragmatisms -- French Philosophies Of Qualitative Research : Structuralism And Poststructuralism -- Global Influences On Qualitative Research : New Philosophies -- Discussion -- References. Svend Brinkmann. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Philosophies of Qualitative Research helps readers understand, present, and critique the different roles of philosophical paradigms in qualitative research. Author Svend Brinkmann shows how to reflect upon, report, and evaluate the ways in which philosophical positions inform qualitative research as it is currently practiced.