Sociology Commons^™

A Very Positive Review Of Positive Autoethnography: An Introduction To Theory And Practice, Ronald J. Chenail

The Qualitative Report

Emerging from a creative marriage of positive psychology and autoethnography, Freda Gonot-Schoupinsky and Claude-Hélène Mayer (2025) present a wonderful addition to both families with their new book, Positive Autoethnography: An Introduction to Theory and Practice. The authors do an excellent job situating this new methodology in the rich traditions of both foundational areas and present the theoretical and practical qualities of a variety of positive autoethnography derivations. In what might be the most interesting variation of this evolving form of autoethnography is its promise as a form of therapy – a very positive development indeed.

Mixed-Methods & Ai For Methodological Literature Reviews, António Pedro Costa, Pablo Burneo, Judita Kasperiuniene

The Qualitative Report

In the Generative AI (GenAI) era, social researchers have explored different tools for different phases of research projects. Despite AI and GenAI being highly relevant topics in current literature, few researchers have addressed the question of how to explore GenAI tools based on human-AI collaboration to improve the quality of methodological literature reviews. Based on a real project as a sample, “a competence framework for social researchers integrating GenAI”, we propose a detailed analytical model that triangulates evidence from both quantitative and qualitative data analyses. A mixed-methods approach is looked at, with a focus on the qualitative dimension (quant-QUAL). The …

Qualitative Insights Into The Complexity Of Calling: Moving Beyond Quantitative Boundaries, Jeannel King

The Qualitative Report

Why are deeply personal and lived experiences often reduced to standardized measurements? Calling is one such experience. Although widely recognized as complex, personal, and contextually shaped, the concept of calling has most often been researched through quantitative methods over the past two decades. This study employed qualitative content analysis (QCA) to examine how calling was researched across 267 peer-reviewed journal articles, trace methodological patterns, and consider how those choices influence the field’s conceptualizations of the construct. The analysis integrated deductive coding of methodological features and inductive identification of conceptual themes, refined through abductive synthesis. This hybrid strategy positioned the study …

A Story Within Stories: Using An Analytic Framework To Move From Individual To Collective Storying In The Analysis Of Academic Entrepreneurship Narratives, Olga Gusak, Elena Lyutykh

The Qualitative Report

In this article the objective is to tell a story of one narrative inquiry that employed paradigmatic analytic procedures to explore academic entrepreneurship. Participating twelve college leaders in executive positions in vocational education schools in the USA, invited as information rich cases from personal networks, were powerful storytellers, comfortable with sharing representative anecdotes and shaping the strategic story for their organizations. Their stories were gathered during two rounds of in-depth interviews. Relational ontology and constructivist epistemology underpinned data collection and inductive analysis with assumptions about researchers and participants as co-constructors of the meaning of the social phenomenon of academic entrepreneurship. …

Participatory, Project-Based Approach To Migrant Employment Research: Engaging Entrepreneurs Through Social Innovation, Sabina Kubiciel-Lodzińska, Jolanta Maj

The Qualitative Report

Qualitative research with entrepreneurs employing migrant workers poses significant challenges, particularly in recruiting respondents willing to discuss sensitive topics. This study explores an innovative method to overcome these barriers by engaging entrepreneurs through community-centered social initiatives. Specifically, we examine the "Opole Friendly Company for Migrants" project, a socially innovative competition conducted in the Opolskie Voivodeship from 2020 to 2024. The competition had two main goals. Firstly, it was aimed to foster participation in qualitative research by integrating respondents into a broader, socially meaningful context. The second goal was fostering community integration. The competition highlighted the role of entrepreneurs in supporting …

Personal Cultural Memory As Part Of Life Stories: Insights From Biographical Research On Japanese Canadian And Japanese American Wartime Experiences, Maria Wacławik

The Qualitative Report

The study focuses on the experiences of these communities during World War II, when they were displaced and incarcerated following the attack on Pearl Harbor. In the face of such traumatic events, the challenge arises in how individuals convey memories when words alone may not suffice. The main objective of this research was to determine, based on autobiographical narratives, the links between the memory of wartime experiences of Japanese Americans and Japanese Canadians and their ethnic identity. I do not analyze entire collections of mediated memories stored by narrators, but only those that were introduced during the interview as part …

Acknowledging Progress And Sustaining Rigor In Qualitative Scholarship, Elena Lyutykh

The Qualitative Report

World Conference on Qualitative Research (WCQR) is an annual gathering that brings scholars from around the world. The conference continues to uphold the highest standards of freedom, ethical integrity, and transparency in the unwavering commitment to improve the quality in qualitative scholarship across national borders. The articles that comprise this issue navigate methodological challenges in qualitative research and seek to bring clarity when exploring and explaining truths of social phenomena. The proposed approaches to data collection and analysis demonstrate excellence in creative synthesis of techniques to decern questions of methodology, contributing to enhancements in trustworthiness of qualitative studies.

Bridging Language Barriers In Data Analysis For Constructivist Grounded Theory Research: A Case Study In Chinese Context, Wenyu Li, Catherine Elliott O’Dare, Catherine Conlon

The Qualitative Report

Qualitative studies across diverse linguistic and cultural contexts are rising in global social settings. However, literature addressing the potential methodology challenges of conducting such research using constructivist grounded theory (CGT) remains limited. This paper, therefore, highlights potential challenges in the data analysis phase of cross-cultural research using CGT and suggests a three-phase language conversion strategy to minimize data loss while avoiding superficial analysis based on my Ph.D. research experience, where interviews are conducted in Chinese while the target language is English. Additionally, this paper reflects on the role of bilingual researchers in CGT cross-cultural studies, exploring how the bilingual research …

Collaborative Reflections On A Practical Journey Through Transcendental Phenomenology Data Analysis, Tyler Kulp, Hissah Alzahrani, Michele Parker

The Qualitative Report

Although transcendental phenomenology is widely recognized in qualitative research, there is limited discussion of how researchers come to understand and apply its methods in practice. This paper examines how reflective collaboration enhances the understanding and use of transcendental phenomenological analysis. It involves the first author, a recent doctoral graduate, the second author, a current doctoral student, and the third author, the doctoral advisor, using a collaborative approach. We draw upon the first author’s dissertation, providing clear, actionable guidance for simplifying the analysis process. The discussion highlights the value of collaborative reflection in making the methodology more accessible and enriching understanding …

"Incredibly Powerful And Well-Crafted" - A Review Of Pandemic Death Discourse: Denial, Disparity And The Promise Of Communication, Elda Kanzki-Veloso Ph.D.

The Qualitative Report

This book analysis, focused on Pandemic Death Discourse: Denial, Disparity and the Promise of Communication (Alvarez et al., 2025), expressed a deeply human expectation from readers. The reviewer wanted more than just straightforward facts; there was a deep yearning for real emotion, personal stories, and meaningful connections that helped people cope with fear and uncertainty. They emphasized the importance of immersing readers in the rich experiences of grief, resilience, and hope. There was a need to feel the heavy impact of overlooked lives. The desire for a sense of outrage regarding the disposable nature of certain lives emerged, as well …

Ethnographic Dilemmas And Reflexive Thoughts Of A Contemplative Jewish Anthropologist, Elazar Ben-Lulu Dr.

The Qualitative Report

During ethnographic fieldwork, anthropologists of religion grapple with various dilemmas regarding their participation in the rituals they study. How do they make real-time decisions between full participation and observational distance? Do they manage to participate harmoniously in religious activities even during moments of doubt or questioning of their own faith? Based on my three-year fieldwork in Israeli Reform Jewish congregations, which included observations and in-depth interviews, I demonstrate how my reflexive experience which exposes my internal Jewish dialogue, shaped my patterns of participation and motivation in engaging with various rituals. This autoethnographic description illustrates that my deliberate abstention or avoidance …

Defining Marketing In The Digital Age: An Opportunity To Advance Marketing Thought And Practice, Norman Mafuratidze, Marius Wait, Ilse Struweg

The Qualitative Report

Our study consolidates and refines diverse marketing definitions that have emerged over six decades to formulate a contemporary definition encapsulating the discipline’s current practices and theoretical advancements. We investigate how diverse conceptualizations of marketing can be synthesized into a modern definition that accurately reflects current practices and theoretical advancements while providing practical guidance. Using qualitative document analysis methodology, we conducted first- and second-cycle coding on existing marketing definitions from academic literature and industry publications, identifying recurring themes through thematic analysis. Our findings reveal that marketing can be effectively conceptualized through the DIVE framework (Dynamism, Interconnectivity, Value co-creation, and Exchange), positioning …

A Not-Quite-Assessment Of Assessing Autoethnography: Ekphrastic Compositions On Quality, Clarity, And (Un)Certainty In Autoethnography, Aaron Hoy

The Qualitative Report

Taking an ekphrastic approach, this essay responds to and reflects on my reading of Assessing Autoethnography: Notes on Analysis, Evaluation, and Craft by Andrew F. Herrmann and Tony E. Adams. It has three parts. First, I summarize the book’s central chapters and discuss their practical uses, especially as prompts for in-progress autoethnographies. Second, using clarity as a point of entry, I explore a tension I felt while reading the book—between the comforting utility of specific criteria and the marginalizing power of criteria themselves. Finally, I share a found poem composed in response to the book and reflect on the impermanent …

Emotion Labor As A Catalyst For Language Teacher Identity Renewal And Well-Being: An Autoethnography, Yasser Aminifard

The Qualitative Report

In this autoethnographic study, I explore how my temporary engagement in emotion labor, triggered by teaching and assessment demands imposed by my university, prompted a renewal of my teaching style and enhanced my well-being. Personal journals supplemented by semi-structured interviews with the university’s vice-chancellor, whose expectations precipitated my emotion labor, served as the primary data sources. Drawing on Engeström’s (2015) activity theory, I analyze the contradictions within my university’s activity system that gave rise to my emotion labor, understood here as the management of the negative emotions and tensions arising from discrepancies between teachers’ professional beliefs and workplace demands (Benesch, …

Open Science Is Coming To Theory Construction: The Case Of Document Analysis, Sarah R. Bostrom, Gina L. Levalley, Katrina Cooley, Richard E. Niemeyer

The Qualitative Report

Growing concerns about the reproducibility of scientific findings have led to efforts to enhance the transparency and rigor of social science research. Improving the accuracy and precision of theory development and adopting Open Science practices, such as open data, are widely considered effective means to achieve these ends. However, current Open Science practices primarily target quantitative methodologies and tend to ignore qualitative methods, like document analysis, due to perceived insurmountable obstacles. Since document analysis is often crucial for constructing accurate and precise theories, the inability to integrate Open Science practices with qualitative research methods undermines the effectiveness of these solutions …

Institutionalized Bullying In Tertiary Institutions In Nigeria And Perceived Mental Health Impacts: A Phenomenological Qualitative Study, Chika Bosah, Casey Mace Firebaugh, Tara R. Zolnikov

The Qualitative Report

Institutionalized bullying is when bullying moves beyond individual instances of bullying and is culturally embedded in an institution, such as a school or workplace. This type of bullying has not been thoroughly examined in tertiary school settings in Nigeria. This phenomenological qualitative study examined the experiences of tertiary students (from four different institutions in Nigeria) and their experiences of institutionalized bullying to determine if and to what extent this practice is occurring. There were (n=48) tertiary students engaged in open-ended, semi-structured interviews in Nigeria in 2022. Interviews were transcribed, coded, and thematically analyzed. Overall, this study found that institutionalized bullying …

Preparation, Development, And Refinement Of The Interview Protocol In Qualitative Research, David C. Coker, Adebowale Akande

The Qualitative Report

Interview protocols are by far the most common method utilized in qualitative research data collection. Novice and experienced researchers, from working on dissertations to grant proposals or other publications, often lack detailed interview design methods, as many educational programs do not require specific coursework on interview protocols and question development. To improve qualitative research, we make a proposal to incorporate an interdisciplinary approach that operationalizes three stages: preparation, development, and refinement. Preparation involves mapping the extant literature to define broad, narrow, and focused topics to write actionable standards, goals, and objectives. Development uses instructional design and educational psychology to construct …

Exploring Technology-Enhanced Learning: A Comparative Study Of Online And Offline Interactive Practices In The Iranian Higher Education System, Naser Rashidi, Mohamad Reza Farangi, Ali Hosseini

The Qualitative Report

This study explored how interactive teaching and learning are enacted through technology-enhanced methods in Iran’s higher education system. Using an exploratory qualitative design, it investigated the pedagogical strategies employed by instructors and examined whether these practices align with the principles of Technology-Enhanced Learning (TEL) across online and in-person contexts. Data were collected through the analysis of 263 class reports and 37 semi-structured interviews with university instructors. Thematic analysis using MAXQDA revealed six cohesive and interpretive themes: fostering human connection, empowering student voices, learning as dialogue, adaptive teaching, multimodal engagement, and feedback as dialogue. These themes reflect a holistic view of …

Learning How To Interview For Qualitative Research, Kathryn Roulston, Brigette A. Herron, Caprial Farrington

The Qualitative Report

A key component of qualitative methods coursework has been the interview assignment, which typically prepares scholars to conduct in-person, individual, and open-ended interviews. This study examined what novice researchers did and learned during an interview assignment in an introductory qualitative methods course. Interview transcripts and reflections from 12 graduate students who enrolled in an online or face-to-face section of the course were analyzed. Findings review students’ reflections on the process of conducting the interview project, beginning with the preparation phase, what they discussed concerning how the interviews transpired and their experiences of the transcription process. The article reports on how …

Facilitation Of Focus Groups Towards Conflict Resolution Among Pastoralists And Farmers In Northern Uganda: An Indigenous Relational Approach, Francis Akena Adyanga Dr., Norma Ra Romm Prof., Ambrose Dbins Toolit

The Qualitative Report

In this article we discuss how we explored with participants in a district of Northern Uganda certain land-related conflicts between pastoralists (herdsmen) and farmers. Following the end of the conflict in the civil war in Northern Uganda (1986-2006/7), many pastoralists moved from Central and Western Uganda to Northern Uganda in search for pastures for their animals. This has resulted in tension with the host community of farmers. In recognition of these long-standing conflicts and wishing to contribute to their addressal, in 2021 we set up four focus groups drawing on Indigenous relational practices of conflict resolution. We invoked storytelling and …

Itinerarios Y Vicisitudes De Blogueras Colombianas De Lo Materno: Una Etnografía Digital, Catalina Echeverri Gallo

The Qualitative Report

Los escenarios digitales se han convertido en espacios relacionales significativos para mujeres y madres en la contemporaneidad, integrándose en sus interacciones cotidianas. Sin embargo, la forma en que estas plataformas se utilizan en contextos latinoamericanos para compartir experiencias, emociones, aprendizajes y malestares sobre las maternidades aún no ha sido suficientemente explorada. A partir de una etnografía digital, esta investigación ofrece conocimientos contextualizados sobre cómo siete blogueras colombianas comparten sus maternidades en entornos digitales y crean comunidades que se sirven de sus saberes y trayectorias.

Los hallazgos muestran que las madres blogueras utilizan sus relatos digitales para desafiar los mandatos históricos …

Strengthening Qualitative Research With Visualization: A Review Of Visual Displays In Qualitative And Mixed Method Research: A Comprehensive Guide, Dian Permatasari

The Qualitative Report

Visual Displays in Qualitative and Mixed Method Research: A Comprehensive Guide by Elizabeth G. Creamer (2025) offers a new perspective on the use of visualization to enhance qualitative and mixed methods research. This review examines the book’s content, which includes a variety of examples of visual displays (tables, diagrams, models) at various stages of research, from study design to reporting results. The book demonstrates how visual displays can be used not only to report results but also to enrich the research process from planning to analysis. With real-world examples from a variety of studies, the book is a valuable resource …

Exploring Giftedness And The Gifted Learner In Education And Beyond: An Autoethnographic Study With Critical Friends, Katrina Reynen-Woodward, Penny N. Round Dr, Pearl Subban, Edwin Creely

The Qualitative Report

The concept of giftedness is complex, contested and evolving and may be thus frustratingly challenging to apply in practice. One area of emerging research is understanding the personal experiences of those who identify as gifted in order to better represent the myriad culturally diverse conceptions of giftedness that evolve over a lifetime. In this article, I employ an autoethnographic approach to explore aspects of my adult identity as an atypical learner. This journey unfolds in crafted vignettes that reveal the complexities and multi-dimensionality of my learning and are analysed using Gagné’s Differentiated Model of Giftedness and Talent (DMGT). As I …

Participant Empowerment, Inclusivity, And Social Justice: A Review Of Meng Tian’S Arts-Based Research Methods For Educational Researchers, Niway Ayalew Adimasu

The Qualitative Report

In reviewing Arts-Based Research Methods for Educational Researchers by Meng Tian (2023), I found a priceless resource for contemporary scholars wishing to add cutting-edge arts-based techniques to their qualitative research inquiries. This book offers a thorough examination of how artistic mediums like poetry, theater, and visual arts can be used to investigate the emotional, psychological, and cultural aspects of education that conventional research frequently ignores. It does this by fusing theoretical understanding with helpful advice. The book focuses on participant empowerment, inclusivity, and ethical considerations when working with vulnerable populations highlights the book’s commitment to social justice, making it especially …

Qualitative Research Methods In English Medium Instruction For Emerging Researchers: A Book Review, Dewi Bernike Tampubolon

The Qualitative Report

This review discusses the book Qualitative Research Methods in English Medium Instruction for Emerging Researchers, edited by Samantha M. Curle and Jack K. H. Pun, published in 2023. In this review, I provide a summary of the book's content as well as an overview of each chapter that includes theory and case studies from different countries. I also discuss the structure and organization of the book, including its strengths and weaknesses. The review concludes with an evaluation that the book is a very useful resource and practical guide for early career researchers, supervisors, EMI practitioners and scholars in the …

Digital Technology Usage In Tajikistan, Siyovush Bobokhonov Dr., Pedro Quelhas Brito Dr., Umesh Ramchandra Raut Dr., Prafulla Arjun Pawar Dr.

The Qualitative Report

The rapid development of digital technologies is significantly changing how people live, and these changes have a particular impact on the younger generation in Tajikistan. Our study therefore aims to analyze the factors influencing young Tajiks' opinions as users of digital technology and to examine digital technology usage in Tajikistan. We conducted a qualitative analysis of the opinions of young Tajik individuals aged 18 to 30 and found that they generally consider digital technology to be an integral part of their daily lives. Data collection was carried out through focus group discussions (FGDs) and the data analysis was performed using …

Navigating Uncertainty In Doctoral Education, Megan K. Mitchell, Audra Skukauskaitė, Lakelyn E. Taylor, Kathryn Babb, Nicole Narkiewicz, Joseph E. Lloyd

The Qualitative Report

The shift to more virtual learning during and since the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted in-person doctoral education by limiting opportunities for face-to-face academic socialization, networking, and collaborative learning, prompting questions about how graduate students could sustain their scholarly development through online spaces. This study examines how graduate students who joined the Qualitative Research Club, a virtual interdisciplinary student organization, co-constructed a shared academic culture, or languaculture, through their interactions. Using an Interactional Ethnographic approach, we analyzed video and audio recordings, meeting artifacts, and discourse from club meetings to trace members' participation, identity development, co-construction of knowledge, and development of …

Interviewing Refugees And Asylum Seekers: Study Guidelines For Forced Migration Researchers, Ahmad Al Ajlan

The Qualitative Report

This study develops guidelines for conducting qualitative research with refugees and asylum seekers in Western host countries by examining how participants' vulnerabilities should inform research practices. The guidelines are derived from a critical review of literature on qualitative research with vulnerable groups, particularly refugees, and the author's experience as a forced migration researcher with a displacement background. The study underscores how asylum seekers' vulnerabilities, shaped by acculturation challenges and exposure to trauma in their countries-of-origin, during their asylum journeys, and in host societies, influence both the interview process and the dissemination of findings. Key recommendations emphasize the need to account …

Analyzing Focus Groups Through Poetic Dialogues: Enhancing Participant Engagement And Representation In Program Evaluation, Catherine E. Sanders, Alexa J. Lamm, Jori N. Hall, Abigail Borron, Maria Navarro, James C. Anderson Ii

The Qualitative Report

Evaluating programs in rural communities can present challenges when large, observable successes, such as infrastructure additions, are limited due to resource challenges. These successes are often quantifiable and easily identified by external stakeholders. However, there are often intangible and social impacts that should be captured as successes of rural community-focused programs that may not fit the more quantitative methodology. Arts-based methodologies, like poetic analysis, can help capture the diverse impacts of a program, while also centering the voices of program participants in the evaluation itself. This study examined the use of poetic dialogues, an application of poetic transcriptions for focus …

Navigating Identity Tensions And Emotional Struggles: Indonesian Pre-Service Teachers In The Teaching Practicum, Afrianto Daud, Minh Hue Nguyen, Raqib Chowdhury

The Qualitative Report

Despite the critical role of teaching practicums in teacher education, little is known about how pre-service teachers navigate emotional tensions in Indonesia. In this study, we aim to explore the nature of tensions and emotional struggles pre-service teachers face and their coping mechanisms. Seven pre-service teachers from the English Education department at an Indonesian public university were purposefully selected. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews before the practicum and a focused group discussion after the program. Semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions were used to capture rich, in-depth accounts of participants’ experiences, while thematic analysis provided a structured approach to …