Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Transitions To Democratic Constitutions In Ethnic Conflicts, Tore Nyhamar

Peace and Conflict Studies

Excerpt

This article discusses the preconditions for settling ethnic conflict through a constitutional compromise: democracy. The focus is on the conditions for transition to democracy amidst intense ethnic strife. What factors facilitate transition to democracy and what factors are obstacles? It is assumed that the attitude of social groups to democracy is determined by their leaders' rational calculations of the prospects of social, economical and political benefits. In other words, social groups have the capacity to formulate collective interests and act strategically to further them, and their leaders choose the alternative path of action with the highest expected benefits among …

Conflict Resolution: Towards Problem Solving, John W. Burton

Peace and Conflict Studies

Excerpt

From earliest times human societies, like those which proceeded them, have been subject to rule by the relatively strong. In contemporary legal terms there have been "those who have a right to rule, and others who have an obligation to obey." Feudal societies, then industrial societies, had structures that reflected these we-they relationships based on relative power.

Securitised Ethnic Identities And Communal Conflicts, Tarja Väyrynen

Peace and Conflict Studies

Excerpt

The paper is inspired by Ernesto Laclau's (1996, p. 46) observation of the terrain into which history has thrown us. The terrain is characterised by: [...] the multiplication of new--and not so new--identities as a result of the collapse of the places from which the universal subject spoke--explosion of ethnic and national identities in Eastern Europe and in the territories of the former USSR, struggles of immigrant groups in Western Europe, new forms of multicultural protest and self-assertion in the U.S., to which we have to add the gamut of forms of contestation associated with the new social movements.

Peacemaking Through Nonviolence, Michael N. Nagler

Peace and Conflict Studies

Excerpt

Somalia, Rwanda and what was once Yugoslavia reveal the shocking inadequacies of the 'security regime' of our post-cold-war world. One response to these disasters has been to field more UN Peacekeeping operations; more operations were mounted in the four years between 1988-1992 than the previous forty. Yet, as we all know, this development was far from adequate, and in the end has brought the whole idea of UN peacekeeping into question. NATO head John Shalikashvili said early in 1992, "the days of pristine peacekeeping as we have understood it for years are probably over" (Shalikashvili, 1993). His solution was …

Ethnic Boundaries And The Margins Of The Margin, Bent D. Jφrgenson

Peace and Conflict Studies

The theme of this paper is on one of the most elementary questions in the study of ethnicity and nationalism, namely how to approach and assess ethnic boundaries'. Should we perceive them as an advantageous or a pernicious tool in politics? To answer that question, we need a reference point; advantageous or pernicious in relation to whom? I will here use those people(-s) who are so marginalized that their voices are practically silenced, and the way in which the political reconstruction, conversion, or deconstruction of ethnic boundaries is favorable or not to them; the margins of the margin. Do ethnic …

Living With Chronic Heart Disease: A Pilot Study, Charlene A. Winters

The Qualitative Report

Few studies have addressed the experience of living with chronic heart disease. Understanding how persons appraise and respond to heart disease will foster nurses' ability to provide holistic client care. The purpose of this pilot study was to extend understanding of the experience of living with chronic heart disease and to identify questions for further study. Qualitative inquiry was the interpretive approach guiding this descriptive explorative study. Individuals eligible for participation were (a) 18 years or older, (b) able to read and speak English, and (c) at least 1 year post acute cardiac event and free of chronic illness unrelated …

Reflective Critical Inquiry On Critical Inquiry:A Critical Ethnographic Dilemma Continued, Barry Kanpol

The Qualitative Report

This manuscript argues that there is an intimate connection between a "critical" ethnographer's personal history and the data collected. The author traces elements in his personal life, such as school, religion, immigration and forms of discrimination, and connects dominant values within the above to the various studies he has conducted over the last decade. The author reflects back on how he may have unconsciously been seeing the everyday experiences of subjects he was studying as a reflection of his own personal experiences at various times in his life - all which relate to forms of institutional and cultural political resistance. …

Mixing Qualitative And Quantitative Methods In Sports Fan Research, Ian Jones

The Qualitative Report

Sports fandom consists of cognitive and affective, as well as behavioural components. Existing sports fan research utilises either strong qualitative, or more often, strong quantitative methodologies. The strengths and weaknesses of each approach are outlined, developing the argument that the use of a single methodology often fails to explore all of these components. The use of a mixed methods approach is suggested to counteract this weakness and to enhance research into the sports fan.

The Quilting Bee: A Research Metaphor, Rhonda C. Sommers

The Qualitative Report

This paper uses the art of quilting as a metaphor for the research process. Two very different stories are revealed by Amish women at a quilting bee as they explore their purposes, thoughts, and experiences in producing their first quilts. The metaphor is used to contrast the goals, involvement of the researcher, and descriptions utilized by qualitative and quantitative researchers. The tales of these Amish women both contribute to an understanding of the art of quilting just as both qualitative and quantitative researchers have contributions to make to the field of education.

Results Of A Case Study On Information Technology At A University, Winston M. Tellis

The Qualitative Report

In the first article in this series (Tellis, 1997a) the author presented the background on the history and importance of the use of the case method of research. The second article (Tellis, 1997b) presented a proposed methodology based on the literature and an application of the methodology in an information technology case. The current article will present a suggested format for reporting case research results. The article will review the goals and objectives of the research project and present various tables containing the results of the data analysis conducted for the project. The article will finally present conclusions drawn from …

Understanding Qualitative Research: A Review Of Judith Meloy's Writing The Qualitative Dissertation: Understanding By Doing, Teresa J. Bowen

The Qualitative Report

No abstract provided.

Application Of A Case Study Methodology, Winston M. Tellis

The Qualitative Report

In the preceding article (Tellis, 1997), the goals and objectives were presented and explained in detail. In this article, the methodology to accomplish those goals and objectives will be examined. The reader will become familiar with the specific techniques that are used in the current study, and supported by the literature that was reviewed in the previous article. That methodology will follow the recommendation of Yin (1994) and has four stages: Design the case study, Conduct the case study, Analyze the case study evidence, and Develop the conclusions, recommendations and implications. The article begins with an introduction, that includes some …

European Politics Of Citizenship, Juan M. Delgado-Moreira

The Qualitative Report

During the past five years, the European Union has been trying to sponsor a coming of age of European Identity awareness across national borders. In doing so, EU administration intends to square the circle of European Union as the super nation-state of the nation states of Europe. However prompted or justified by the political or economic context, it is noteworthy to what extent the texts of European statutes and policies lack theoretical alternatives to the territorial and relatively homogeneous state. In order for it not to become a threat perceived by the population in identity terms, the apparently forthcoming idea …

Organizational And Developmental Dynamics Of Project Review Teams In Technology Environment, Anthony D. Wilbon

The Qualitative Report

This paper is the result of a week long participant observation of a technical project review team within a large organization. A detailed log was maintained during the study and the results were analyzed to understand the relationship of the observations to prior research in organizational dynamics. Some of the existing literature implies that the current research on organizational development may be applicable to entities of various sizes. In some cases the observations from this research fell within the framework of the existing theories. However, alterations must be made to the current theories to apply specifically to small work groups …

Multi-Visual Qualitative Method: Observing Social Groups In Mass Media, George Tsourvakas

The Qualitative Report

In reviewing the bibliography upon which qualitative method is based, the author refers to ethnography, ethnomethdology, symbolic interactionism and cultural studies, and argues that a combination of the qualitative methods is actually possible. To enforce his point, he gives the example of research that was recently conducted about the National Television Channel of Greece. Moreover, through the theoretical review, he asserts that the application of all qualitative methods is a way to transfer ourselves from observation to focusing and depth interviews. He believes that such an application can be really effective while collecting data as well as while analyzing and …

Keeping Things Plumb In Qualitative Research, Ronald J. Chenail

The Qualitative Report

As qualitative research projects are conceptualized and conducted, they can grow out of alignment as researchers make choices as to their Area of Curiosity, Mission Question, Data Collected, and Data Analysis. This phenomenon of being muddled is a natural, and sometimes necessary, part of the overall process. The important part of being in a muddle is to recognize it and to work to tidy it up. In this paper, a way to keep qualitative research projects plumb is presented. A case study is also shared to show how one project was found to be out of alignment and how it …

Introduction To Case Study, Winston M. Tellis

The Qualitative Report

This paper is the first of a series of three articles relating to a case study conducted at Fairfield University to assess aspects of the rapid introduction of Information Technology at the institution. This article deals with the nature of the problem faced by Fairfield University, the characteristics of the case methodology, and lays the foundation for the selection of this research technique for the current study. The paper begins with an Introduction section to familiarize the reader with the case organization. The following section on Case Methodology explores the history, and some of the applications of the technique. The …

Interviewing Exercises: Lessons From Family Therapy, Ronald J. Chenail

The Qualitative Report

Interviewing has become a widely used means for data generation in qualitative research. It is also a popular approach for counselors and therapists in their qualitative research projects. A major reason qualitative research-style interviewing is a favored technique with researching clinicians is that it is so similar to the way in which counselors and therapists interact with their clients in therapy sessions. Given this closeness in form, it would make sense that some of the ways therapists are taught to interview could be adapted to help beginning qualitative researchers learn interviewing skills as well. In this paper, three sets of …

Can Sociological Research Be Qualitative, Critical And Valid?, David Wainwright

The Qualitative Report

Qualitative Research is enjoying a new found respectability in medical sociology, derived in part from an increasing willingness to submit to positivist criteria of reliability and validity. Whilst such claims to 'scientific' credibility have raised the status of the approach, this has only been achieved by driving a wedge between ethnographic methods of data-collection and their origins in the phenomenological strands of sociological thought. One consequence of this schism has been to rob qualitative research of its critical potential, transforming it from a means of challenging discursive formations into a mechanism of surveillance. This paper defines the broad contours of …

Chaos In The Clinic:Applications Of Choas Theory To A Qualitative Study Of A Veterinary Practice, Eleanor Craven Brennan

The Qualitative Report

This paper is the result of a twelve hour participant observation study of a local, private veterinary practice in southeastern Pennsylvania. Field notes and semi-structured interviews, the result of naturally occurring conversation between me and practice members, were taken over a twelve week period, one hour of site visit each week. Using a grounded theory methodology, categories of social interaction among veterinarians, veterinary technicians, clerical staff, owners and animal clients were assembled, discarded and re-assembled. The resulting categories were analyzed using the conceptual framework of chaos theory and the principles of uncertainty. It appears that the most striking feature of …

Choice Points:Creating Clinical Qualitative Research Studies, Paul V. Maione

The Qualitative Report

Today, more psychotherapists are seeing the utility of studying their own and others' therapeutic work. With the growing popularity and acceptance of qualitative methods, the research process takes on special significance for the clinician/researcher. Using qualitative methodologies, therapists can conduct studies that are immediately relevant to their therapeutic work. In this paper, I discuss eight decisions or "choice points" clinician/researchers face when conducting clinical qualitative research studies. The choices I discuss are not all inclusive, yet they are representative of the choices most clinical qualitative projects required.

Introduction, Elise Boulding

Peace and Conflict Studies

Excerpt

The papers brought together here represent a part of the work of the IPRA (International Peace Research Association) Commission on Conflict Resolution and Peace Building that met during the 1994 Conference of the International Peace Research Association at Malta to address the issues of peace building in crisis areas. The focus here is particularly on new approaches to peace building, including United Nations reform and civil society innovation. After fifty years of UN peace building efforts, it is clear that the UN cannot function effectively without the involvement of civil society in each conflict region. How the UN, member …

Nonviolent Interposition In Armed Conflicts, Alberto L'Abate

Peace and Conflict Studies

Excerpt

In 1931 Gandhi spoke of the possibility of overcoming violent conflicts with "a living wall of men and women" who would interpose themselves between conflicting parties without any other weapons than themselves (Weber, 1988). Some students of nonviolent intervention have written histories of interpositionary experiences from Gandhi's first idea until recent years (Keyes, 1978; Weber, 1988; Walker, 1981; L'Abate, 1993a). Maybe it is time to try an evaluation of these types of interventions.1

The Two Faces Of Peace Building, Michael Harbottle, Eirwen Harbottle

Peace and Conflict Studies

Excerpt

Terminology, if not precisely defined, can lead to misinterpretation and misunderstanding. This has been the case in the way in which the United Nations has been using peacemaking, peacekeeping and, more recently, peacebuilding. Agenda for Peace, produced by the UN Secretary General in 1992 suffers from some ambiguity in this respect. For example, it refers to the military performing a peacemaking role. The military cannot make peace, that is the role of the diplomat or politician. All that the military can do is to allay, defuse and help to end the manifest violence so that the peacemaking process can …

Peace Building And Conflict Transformation, Kevin Clements

Peace and Conflict Studies

Excerpt

The world clearly needs some new ways of thinking about old problems and new ways of acting if we are going to survive into the 21st century. It is vital, therefore, that students of peace and conflict work out ways of harnessing the creative imagination of everyone so that all peoples can envisage a positive future and ways of realizing that future. This imagining cannot be narrow. It has to be broad, inclusive, interdisciplinary and systemic but it has to begin if we are to have a viable future.

Field Diplomacy: A New Conflict Prevention Paradigm?, Luc Reychler

Peace and Conflict Studies

Excerpt

One of the most important challenges facing the global community in the next decade, is the prevention of destructive conflicts. Listening to the discourse in the United Nations and other governmental and non governmental organizations this may sound like kicking in wide open doors (Bauwens and Reychler, 1994). But the failure of conflict prevention and the high number of conflict zones, indicates that we still have a long way to go. A global survey of contemporary conflicts counts 22 high-intensity and 39 lowerintensity conflicts, and 40 serious disputes (PIOOM, 1995). In 1995 five groups were victims of genocides or …

Categorizing, Coding, And Manipulating Qualitative Data Using The Wordperfect® Word Processor, John H. Carney, Joseph F. Joiner, Helen Tragou

The Qualitative Report

In this paper, we present a method of categorizing, coding, and sorting/manipulating qualitative (descriptive) data using the capabilities of a commonly-used word processor: WordPerfect®. We explain the process and its development in simple terms for the person who may be familiar with qualitative research and data, but not with computer and/or word processor manipulation of that data. Although we developed the process to suit our methods, it can easily be adapted/evolved to fit different research situations where a method of rapidly handling large amounts of descriptive data is desirable.

Postscript Two: Literature As Geodetic Survey Map, Alexander Massey, Vincent Hevern

The Qualitative Report

No abstract provided.

Sensemaking In Clinical Qualitative Research, Ronald J. Chenail, Paul V. Maione

The Qualitative Report

When therapists research clinical populations or situations from a qualitative research perspective, their task is different from when researchers conduct their own clinical qualitative studies. With researchers, the study at hand may be their first time "in the field." For researchers in this situation it is easier to use qualitative methods such as grounded theory (Glaser & Strauss, 1967) because there is a "tabula rasa" quality to this initial foray into the "unknown" as a theory from observations is constructed anew. In the case of the therapists-as-qualitative-researchers, clinicians already have made some sort of sense of "the other" by virtue …

Welfare Reform: The Positioning Of Academic Work, Carolyn I. Steele, Cynthia Wallat

The Qualitative Report

Current welfare reform legislation raises a number of questions about how the field of human services will broaden its analytical and educational functions in a context of uncertainty about what welfare will look like in the years to come. How can information and insights about the distribution of welfare dollars and the process of leaving welfare by a heterogeneous population of clients become the basis of contrastive analysis? We describe information sources which can provide a framework for positioning academic work to use longitudinal quantitative tracking sources to lay out qualitative inquiry suggestions for collecting process data that will emerge …