The Inner Process of Collective Interpretation in Qualitative Research

Authors

Belén Ballesteros, Spanish University of Distance Education (UNED)Follow
Patricia Mata-Benito, Spanish University of Distance Education (UNED)Follow

Abstract

Interpretative research assumes the collective nature of knowledge production and enhances the development of intersubjectivity. However, the question of how to generate collective and intersubjective knowledge within a research group has barely been addressed. This paper describes in detail the strategies that our research group developed during the process of collective interpretation that we performed during an exploratory study, as part of a research project on learning of active citizenship. Based on specific examples from our study, we uncover the strategies used to respond to the different degrees of convergence and divergence identified. Finally, we provide with some reflection on the difficulties and benefits of this collective process.

Keywords

Interpretative Research, Intersubjectivity, Research Group Strategies, Collective Research

Author Bio(s)

Belén Ballesteros and Patricia Mata-Benito work as Associate Professors in the Faculty of Education at the National University of Distance Education (UNED) in Madrid, Spain. They conduct research on Diversity and Intercultural Education, Citizenship and Participation, and School Drop-out. Both of them are active members of the INTER Group on Intercultural Education Research since 2002. Correspondence regarding this article can be addressed directly to: bballesteros@edu.uned.es; pmata@edu.uned.es

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Publication Date

1-20-2018

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

DOI

10.46743/2160-3715/2018.2769

Recommended APA Citation

Ballesteros, B., & Mata-Benito, P. (2018). The Inner Process of Collective Interpretation in Qualitative Research. The Qualitative Report, 23(1), 168-183. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2018.2769