The Theater of Qualitative Research: The Role of the Researcher/Actor

Abstract

If the world is a stage and life is a collection of scenes, there may be a great set of discoveries to make if a researcher thinks of society like an actor. The art of analysis and human understanding may too often be under the influence of scientific approaches to method. By applying methods of theater to that of qualitative research, we explore a set of concepts to identify the interplay between the interviewer as character and researcher as actor. Furthermore, we offer practical applications of theatrical methods to qualitative research to enhance self-awareness, understanding, and discovery that all work in tandem to enhance the art of qualitative research.