Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Participant Observation Of Alcoholics Anonymous: Contrasting Roles Of The Ethnographer And Ethnomethodologist, Seán O'Halloran

The Qualitative Report

This paper is an attempt to explore the possible research stances available to the researcher involved in participant observation of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) . It examines some ethnographic studies of AA, within both naturalistic and symbolic interaction is m research paradigms. However , mindful of the constitutive nature of language in social interaction and also wishing to focus on AA as a discoursal process, ethnomethodological approaches are examined, particularly the insights available through Conversational Analysis (CA) and Institutional Interaction. The methods of scrutiny available through these approaches - the emphasis on data and fine-grained detail as well as the context …

The Researcher As Autobiographer: Analysing Data Written About Oneself, Colleen Tenni, Anne Smith, Carlene Boucher

The Qualitative Report

This paper explores some of the issues that arise when one is dealing with data that has been produced by the researcher about their own experience. In particular, we are interested in exploring the ways that researchers can go about analyzing autobiographical data. Many researchers produce data that is autobiographical. Ethnographers produce field notes. Action Researchers often write about their own practice. Phenomenologists, sociologists and historians may write narratives that are autobiographical. There is a growing trend for researchers working in a range of settings to view themselves simultaneously being both a subject (or the subject) and a researcher. Data …

The Potential Role Of Spirituality In Conducting Field Research: Examination Of A Model And A Process, Michael Maher

The Qualitative Report

The Cognitive-Experiential Tri-Circle is a model developed by the author to explain the relationship between conducting field research and reflecting on beliefs, including spiritual beliefs. His sample included graduate students, faculty, and friends of the university who participated in field research trips to Cuba through Loyola University Chicago. The basic assumption of the model is that "self," "beliefs," and "experience" are related in such a way that "depth" applies to each equally in a field research experience. Depth of experience for the self leads to depth of belief for the self . Reflection tools that encourage depth of belief for …

Bridge Over Troubled Waters: End-Of-Life (Eol) Decisions, A Qualitative Case Study, Kate Callahan, Nancy Maldonado, Joan Efinger

The Qualitative Report

This case study investigated the psychological and emotional experiences of nine health care professionals who attended a Five Wishes seminar, designed to acquaint participants with thinking holistically about death. All the self-selected participants had experienced the death of a loved one and indicated they were able to discuss death issues. Data collection included interviews, observations, physical artifacts, and the Five Wishes documents. Content analysis was the central technique used to identify themes. Findings indicated participants attended the EOL seminar to share information with their colleagues and patients; the information also interested them personally. However, facing death and making EOL care …

Challenging Methodological Traditions: Research By Email, Donna Mcauliffe

The Qualitative Report

Engaging human service practitioners as partners in research about sensitive areas of front-line work can be difficult for a range of reasons. Time constraints, geographic limitations, trust in the research relationship, issues of privacy, and fear of professional judgment are only some of the barriers that researchers need to overcome in order to assist workers to become involved in a reflective process about areas of practice. This article outlines the development of a new method of qualitative data collection designed to aid the reflective process and assist practitioners to engage in an ongoing dialogue about complex ethical dilemmas they had …

Legitimising The Subjectivity Of Human Reality Through Qualitative Research Method, Adrian K. Morgan, Vicki B. Drury

The Qualitative Report

The controversy that has surrounded the value of quantitative research methods as opposed to qualitative approaches as a means to increasing the knowledge and understanding of human behaviour in health and illness, has been contested by nurse scholars for several decades. This paper continues debate around this issue and provides a critique of the problems associated with these competing paradigms. It challenges the convention that all nursing research must be objective and value free in order to be scientific, and provides an overview of the processes that should be considered by researchers utilizing qualitative methods of inquiry.

Qualitative Research - Airy Fairy Or Fundamental?, Adri Labuschagne

The Qualitative Report

For many scientists used to doing quantitative studies the whole concept of qualitative research is unclear, almost foreign, or 'airy fairy' - not ' real' research. Clinical scientists sometimes find it difficult to accept this research method where the generation of hypotheses often replaces the testing thereof, explanation replaces measurement, and understanding replaces generalisability. Since qualitative research is becoming a prominent tool in medical research, it will be worthwhile to have a closer look at what it is and how it works.

Getting Connected: How Sociologists Can Access The High Tech Élite, Trond Arne Undheim

The Qualitative Report

Élite studies have been relatively neglected in the qualitative methods literature (Coleman, 1996, p. 336; Hertz & Imber, 1995) . As a consequence, the interview methods literature in the social sciences does not adequately address the issue of access to élite interviews. Nor does it address the élite interview process itself (Breakwell, Hammond, & Fife-Schaw, 1995; Brenner, Brown, & Canter, 1985; Crabtree & Miller, 1992; Fog, 1994; Fowler & Mangione, 1990; McCracken , 1988; Stewart & Cash, 1997; Sudman & Bradburn, 1982; Weiss, 1994) . Despite its élite sample (scientists, engineers, policy- makers) the science and technology studies (STS) community …

Innovative Motivational Profiling: Comparing Marketing Projective Techniques Versus Linguistic Forensic Techniques, Joseph Yeager

The Qualitative Report

Motivational profiling is commonly done in both marketing and forensic contexts. In an unabashed quest for creativity, many marketer s use projective psychological techniques to search for inspiration that leads to ad concepts that will, ultimately, sell more products. Forensic professionals also seek predictive information about motivation in search of facts that will effectively lead to the capture and handling of criminals by using the recent advances found in linguistic technology. Projective profiling techniques produce very soft, opinionated data that are open to interpretation and which has only random relevance to predicting customer behavior. In contrast, linguistic profiling techniques produce …

Converting Evidence Into Data: The Use Of Law Enforcement Archives As Unobtrusive Measurement, David Canter, Laurence J. Alison

The Qualitative Report

The newly emerging area of Investigative Psychology provides a behavioural science basis for crime detection by examining investigative processes and criminal behaviour. It draws upon a range of material collected by law enforcement agencies that is not widely utilized in the social sciences. This may be regarded as a form of non-reactive, unobtrusive data that has many of the advantages originally promoted by Webb, Campbell, Schwartz and Sechrest (1966) and more recently explored by Lee (2000). The value of such data, derived from police sources, has been demonstrated in a variety of Investigative Psychology studies. However, law enforcement material is …

Using A Polar Grounded Composite To Describe The Socio-Cultural Determinants Of Esl Teaching In Rural Fijian Schools, Béatrice Boufoy-Bastick

The Qualitative Report

This paper utilizes a grounded narrative to report on the most culturally-Fijian characteristics of teaching. The grounded narrative is a qualitative reporting methodology used to convey the Fijian educational setting vividly and authentically. It highlights the salient cultural characteristics that typify Fijian teaching by depicting a most culturally-extreme Fijian rural school, the 'ideal type'. This description effectively highlights the sociocultural determinants of Fijian school ethos by reporting on extreme aspects of English teaching and daily school management.

False Starts, Suspicious Interviewees And Nearly Impossible Tasks: Some Reflections On The Difficulty Of Conducting Field Research Abroad, Larry D. Hubbell

The Qualitative Report

In this article, I discuss some of the problems I have encountered in conducting field research abroad, specifically in England, South Africa, Russia and China - a broad variety of societies ranging from free to not free societies. I discuss the problems I encountered and how I overcame some of them and was stymied by others. I have had problems gaining access to interviewees; establishing rapport with interviewees from different societies; and have had my motives questioned. Nevertheless, my research has been rewarding and has resulted in a number of serendipitous discoveries.

Using Participatory Focus Groups Of Graduate Students To Improve Academic Departments: A Case Example, Deanna Linville, Jennifer Lambert-Shute, Christine A. Fruhauf, Fred P. Piercy

The Qualitative Report

The authors report on a participatory focus group evaluation of an academic department. The 20 participants, and the majority of the evaluators, were graduate students in that department. The authors report on their methods, their reflections, ethical issues they encountered and what they did about them, and how they used the results.

Leap-Ing Toward Accountability? Ideology, Practice, And The Voices Of Louisiana Educators, Jim Horn

The Qualitative Report

Louisiana educators at an urban K-5 school participated in a two-year study to share their experiences related to the implementation of a state high-stakes testing program (LEAP 21) that is used to make promotion decisions in grades 4 and 8. Observations, document analysis, and interviews were used to study the development of attitudes, perceptions, and practices related to the use of and consequences emanating from this testing practice. It was found that the state test has far-reaching effects on teaching, curriculum, school climate, students, parents, and school administration. The ideology of testing as a positive reform idea and the practice …

Teaching Qualitative Analysis Using Qsr Nvivo, Margaret Walsh

The Qualitative Report

This paper describes new opportunities for teaching qualitative research methods to undergraduates using software as a tool. The author recounts her own experiences and challenges using one such program, QSR NVivo. The account includes students' reflections on how technology advances the analysis process. Strengths and weaknesses of the software and presented and discussed.

Beginning On-Line Delphi Ethnographic Research: The Bolder Method, Jeffrey K. Edwards

The Qualitative Report

The use of the Internet to gather data, produce and report research has changed the face of the fields of education and research. This paper will present a method for combining electronic on-line media and Delphi methodology to begin the process of ethnographic research with participant inclusion, informed consent, data gathering by discourse facilitation, and preparation for coding. The use of a reflecting team by the research group provides impetus for second round responses by participants. Methods, format, a case study and an evaluation of the process will be presented.

Confessions Of A (Somewhat) Reluctant Consultant: Or, What Happens When Academic Dreams Go "Poof", Lawrence Hammar

The Qualitative Report

This essay really is about a protracted and painful transition from academic and teacher to consultant and researcher, but first, I want to get a few things off my chest. If you can stand some wholly relevant whine at the outset, stay with me, but if not, just skip to the third section.

Dare I Embark On A Field Study? Toward An Understanding Of Field Studies, Yan Xiao, Paul Milgram

The Qualitative Report

Field studies have frequently been advocated as a means for understanding cognitive activities in naturalistic settings. However, there are several fundamental obstacles that one has to overcome to conduct a field study. This paper discusses two of these obstacles in the context of studying problem solving in complex environments: defining goals of a field study and justifying methods used in data analysis. Based on our experience from a recently finished field study, we outline a framework for understanding the nature of field studies and suggest a specific approach to data analysis. We argue that the goal of field studies should …

Rethinking Conflict Resolution: Matching Problems And Solutions, Andrea Talentino

Peace and Conflict Studies

This paper addresses international conflict resolution and the disparity between the number of attempts at resolution and the number of successes. It argues that one flaw in efforts thus far has been a lack of understanding of local actors and motivations, leading to ineffective strategies for resolution. In regions where conflict crosses borders, contributes to the trend of politics, and involves mercenary sub-state actors, traditional methods of resolution may be ineffective. Purveyors of violence have little interest in the power-sharing and consensual politics that international actors often try to promote. They also have significant and negative effects on regional stability. …

Virulent Ethnocentrism And Conflict Intractability: Puzzles And Challenges For 3rd Party Intervenors, Dennis J. D. Sandole

Peace and Conflict Studies

This article addresses complex identity-based conflicts, such as those associated with the ending of the Cold War (e.g., Bosnia). It suggests that in many identity-based conflicts, historical memories of outrage and victimhood ("chosen traumas") have persevered across centuries, thereby keeping the conflicting parties "in history." The paper examines the role of virulent ethnocentrism in such intractable conflicts. It also examines the role of "nature" and "nurture" in embedding the universal tendency for humans to divide their species into "them" and "us" within a highly charged emotional context. The paper argues that the complexity of these conflicts has at least four …

Call To Action To Elders Worldwide: The Need To Highlight Their Abilities, Wisdom, And Compassion As Citizen Diplomats, And Leaders For Social Change, Florence Ross

Peace and Conflict Studies

Excerpt

Kofi Annan (1999), the Secretary-General of the United Nations, noted that, “A Society for All Ages is one that sees elders as both agents and beneficiaries of development. It honors traditional elders in their leadership and consultative role in communities throughout the world.” Older persons are among the world resources most often unseen and overlooked. It therefore becomes necessary to raise the consciousness of older people to their changing role in American and global societies to ensure fulfillment in their eldering years. Prior prejudice against elders has prevented inclusion of their enormous potential, of their accumulated experience and wisdom. …

Intergroup Conflict Reduction Through Identity Affirmation: Overcoming The Image Of The Ethnic Or Enemy “Other”, Thomas Boudreau

Peace and Conflict Studies

This paper first argues that a conflict between groups can be lessened by the explicit affirmation by one group of the other group’s identity, including its past pain, defeats and collective losses, when appropriate. A model of group affirmation is then proposed, consisting of: Leadership, Recognition, Validation and the Transparency of Future Time. The groups involved can be ethnic or national in scope. This model is defined in terms of another possible ARIA model to be added to the one already proposed, though quite different in content, by Jay Rothman (1997). Limitations concerning the use of this model are discussed …

The Religion Of War And Peace: Better Understanding Of International Conflict, Armand Abecassis

Peace and Conflict Studies

PEACE: Is peace the cessation of war? The Binary Logic, The History: War is organized and collective, War is a balance of strengths. Can politics alone create a foundation of peace? Is peace only security? WAR: Is the difference the cause of violence? War is linked to living together as a social group. War: Is the hidden threat in the differences between the nations? War:”Is the midwife of societies”.The problem of terrorism: Is peace the obliteration of the differences? THE MEADING OF CONFLICTS: The conflict is permanent and necessary. Peace is not a cessation of conflict. Peace exists only with, …

The Prevention Of Armed Conflicts As An Emerging Norm In International Conflict Management: The Osce And The Un As Norm Leaders, Alice Ackermann

Peace and Conflict Studies

This article explores the emergence of conflict prevention as an emerging norm in international conflict management. In particular, it examines the role of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the United Nations as primary actors in the construction and promotion of conflict prevention as an international norm. The article describes some of the major instruments that both organizations have already developed to implement the prevention of armed conflict on a more consistent rather than ad hoc basis. The article traces the emergent norm of conflict prevention through three stages—the awarenessraising and advocacy stage; the acceptance and …

Reframing Involuntary Population Displacement And Resettlement—The Case Of The Palestinian Refugees: Causes, Consequences, And Prospects For An Impoverishment Process Reversal, Ariella Vraneski

Peace and Conflict Studies

The Palestinian refugees issue is at the core of the Arab-Israeli multi-faceted conflict. This paper relies on a study which investigated the multi-level complexity of the Palestinian refugees case to identify the causes and consequences, and some prospects for its resolution. The study analyzed and compared frames and narratives used by the different parties at several stages of the investigated case, and also integrated lessons from two kinds of involuntary migration. During the Israeli/ Arab peace process, a transformation from exclusionary narratives and one dimensional “either/ or” solutions into a multi-optional synergistic environment was evident. The parties’ frames changed again …

Front Matter, Peace And Conflict Studies

Peace and Conflict Studies

No abstract provided.

Back Matter, Peace And Conflict Studies

Peace and Conflict Studies

No abstract provided.

Volume 10, Number 1 (Spring 2003), Peace And Conflict Studies

Peace and Conflict Studies

No abstract provided.