Meaning making in psychology: qualitative methods and intersubjectivity in research and teaching
Location
1049
Format Type
Event
Format Type
Paper
Start Date
January 2019
End Date
January 2019
Abstract
Traditionally, psychology as a discipline relies heavily on quantitative data. In fact, it can be argued that, for psychology as a research field, the defining mechanism is not a theory but a methodological approach. Curiously, this approach has very little to say about subjective experience and individual meaning making processes. More recently, this is where psychologists turn to qualitative methods - making use of the full spectrum from interviews to participatory research strategies.
In our talk, we want to elaborate why qualitative methods are particularly useful for psychological inquiry and moreover why they are slowly but steadily becoming an integral part of many psychology curricula. Instead of aiming for objective results, qualitative methods create a shared subjectivity. They educate participants as well as researchers and teach everyone involved about others as much as about themselves. In addition, we shall be showing how we as university lecturers make use of qualitative methods in university seminars. Not only are they helpful to teach our students how to access the research field but, more importantly, they are valuable in further developing their personal and professional identities. We will be closing with a reflection on how we as well benefit from the insights of our students.
Keywords
qualitative methods, teaching, meaning making, psychology, intersubjectivity
Meaning making in psychology: qualitative methods and intersubjectivity in research and teaching
1049
Traditionally, psychology as a discipline relies heavily on quantitative data. In fact, it can be argued that, for psychology as a research field, the defining mechanism is not a theory but a methodological approach. Curiously, this approach has very little to say about subjective experience and individual meaning making processes. More recently, this is where psychologists turn to qualitative methods - making use of the full spectrum from interviews to participatory research strategies.
In our talk, we want to elaborate why qualitative methods are particularly useful for psychological inquiry and moreover why they are slowly but steadily becoming an integral part of many psychology curricula. Instead of aiming for objective results, qualitative methods create a shared subjectivity. They educate participants as well as researchers and teach everyone involved about others as much as about themselves. In addition, we shall be showing how we as university lecturers make use of qualitative methods in university seminars. Not only are they helpful to teach our students how to access the research field but, more importantly, they are valuable in further developing their personal and professional identities. We will be closing with a reflection on how we as well benefit from the insights of our students.
Comments
Breakout Session C