The Role of the Researcher in Qualitative Psychology

Abstract

Abstract: Volume two of Qualitative Research Nexus focuses on the roles of qualitative researchers and their relationships within psychological studies. This book is a result of the presentations, discussions, and collaborations of participants at the second workshop "Qualitative Psychology" in October 2001 in Blaubeuren, Germany that was organized by the Center for Qualitative Psychology. The theme of the meeting was "the role of the researcher in qualitative psychology." Reading this volume of Qualitative Research Nexus can assist future researchers in considering the complexity of their roles as qualitative investigators. A model to describe different phases within the processes of research projects is used as an organizing framework for the articles in this book. This model was developed in the department of educational psychology of the University of T bingen, Germany. It can provide a helpful overview for research processes. By indicating a sequence of central areas where research processes can be located we provide a non-linear guide to various tasks that are relevant in research projects. Being aware of these tasks can ease the design of scientists studies. Our model has been inspired by Maxwells description of tasks for designing qualitative studies (Maxwell, 1996). Having an overview of the range of activities involved in research also sheds light on which forms of research relationships might be relevant. Table of Contents: Introduction 5 1. Realism and the roles of the researcher in qualitative psychology Joseph A. Maxwell 11 Application 2. Listening for voice and discourse: The role of the researcher in qualitative psychology Tamara Beauboeuf 31 Exploration 3. The impact of Vipassana meditation on doing research Leo G rtler 39 4. Participants expectations in research relationships Mechthild Kiegelmann 63 5. The role of the researcher in action-oriented studies Hannu Soini, Leena Kultalahti, Terhi Jokelainen and Marianne Tensing 71 Explication 6. Qualitative approaches in learning research: Learning diaries and the role of the researcher Michaela Gl ser-Zikuda 77 7. The role of the researcher in group-based dialogic introspection Thomas Burkart 91 8. Roles of researchers in historical introspective psychology Gerhard Kleining and Peter Mayer 99 9. Collective memory work: The informant as peer-researcher Ulrike Behrens 109 10. "From the field - into the field outside the field." Proximity and distance of the instrument researcher in half structured interviews Bernd Reinhoffer 123 11. The researcher is the instrument Stephan Marks and Heidi M nnich-Marks 131 12. Qualitative content analysis research instrument or mode of interpretation? Philipp Mayring 139 Application 13. The significance of ethnic and national identity of female researchers in practice with young migrant women: Experiences of allochthonous and autochthonous researchers Christine Riegel and Asiye Kaya 149 14. Research on interpersonal violence - a constant balancing act Silke-Birgitta Gahleitner 159 15. The methodological complementariness of biograms, in-depth interviews, and discussion groups Antonio Medina Rivilla, Tiberio Feliz Murias, M Concepci n Dom nguez Garrido and Ram n P rez P rez 169 16. Biographic self-reflection as basis of the researcher's development Antonio Medina Rivilla, M Concepci n Dom nguez Garrido, a Ram n P rez P rez and Tiberio Feliz Murias 185 Proceedings of workgroups and roundtables Impressions Leo G rtler 199 Workgroup: The researcher as the instrument Bernd Reinhoffer 203 Workgroup: An experiment demonstrating group-based dialogic introspection Gerhard Kleining 207 Roundtable: Joint data analysis - qualitative content analysis in action Philipp Mayring and Michaela Gl ser-Zikuda 213 Roundtable: Ethics in qualitative research - not an issue? Silke Gahleitner 215 Subject index 219 Author index 223 About the authors 227