Title

A Mediated “Alternative” Repertoire in Qualitative Research Writing

Location

1052

Format Type

Paper

Format Type

Paper

Start Date

12-1-2017 11:15 AM

End Date

12-1-2017 11:35 AM

Abstract

This presentation reports on a key conclusion drawn from a qualitative investigation based on semi-structured interviews and regarding “alternative” repertoires of qualitative research writing in the social sciences, as perceived by journal editors and leading researchers. Most of the conclusions situate themselves on either end of what seems a “scientific versus art-based” binary: at one end, defending the standardized research repertoire of nominalized, third-person, and authorially silent writing; or, at the other end, promoting the research repertoire of personalized, first-person, and literary-like writing. One conclusion, however, seems to occupy an approximate midpoint within this binary. This conclusion points to a research writing repertoire which can be called “referenced, reflective, and personally illustrative” (RRPI) whereby the author avoids discrete sections such as “analysis” and “discussion,” utilizes bibliographic referencing at will, and expresses her/his opinions, experiences, and personal examples. Not to be confused with current “essay-like” or “think piece writing,” RRPI research writing seems alternative and innovative because, as the data from the investigation shows, the authorial presence of RRPI becomes so pervasive that it becomes a type of empiricism onto itself, as if guided by unseen and unmentioned qualitative data such as interview transcripts or researcher diary entries. In other words, RRPI seems a post-method or post-data research writing repertoire in qualitative studies. This leads us to consider RRPI as a repertoire that by mediating an apparent “scientific versus art-based” binary is able to communicate effectively and inclusively to its readership, including those participants who have informed its underlying data base.

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Jan 12th, 11:15 AM Jan 12th, 11:35 AM

A Mediated “Alternative” Repertoire in Qualitative Research Writing

1052

This presentation reports on a key conclusion drawn from a qualitative investigation based on semi-structured interviews and regarding “alternative” repertoires of qualitative research writing in the social sciences, as perceived by journal editors and leading researchers. Most of the conclusions situate themselves on either end of what seems a “scientific versus art-based” binary: at one end, defending the standardized research repertoire of nominalized, third-person, and authorially silent writing; or, at the other end, promoting the research repertoire of personalized, first-person, and literary-like writing. One conclusion, however, seems to occupy an approximate midpoint within this binary. This conclusion points to a research writing repertoire which can be called “referenced, reflective, and personally illustrative” (RRPI) whereby the author avoids discrete sections such as “analysis” and “discussion,” utilizes bibliographic referencing at will, and expresses her/his opinions, experiences, and personal examples. Not to be confused with current “essay-like” or “think piece writing,” RRPI research writing seems alternative and innovative because, as the data from the investigation shows, the authorial presence of RRPI becomes so pervasive that it becomes a type of empiricism onto itself, as if guided by unseen and unmentioned qualitative data such as interview transcripts or researcher diary entries. In other words, RRPI seems a post-method or post-data research writing repertoire in qualitative studies. This leads us to consider RRPI as a repertoire that by mediating an apparent “scientific versus art-based” binary is able to communicate effectively and inclusively to its readership, including those participants who have informed its underlying data base.