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Qualitative Approaches to the Study of Thriving: What Can Be Learned?
Author(s) -
Massey Sean,
Cameron Ann,
Ouellette Suzanne,
Fine Michelle
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of social issues
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.618
H-Index - 122
eISSN - 1540-4560
pISSN - 0022-4537
DOI - 10.1111/j.1540-4560.1998.tb01222.x
Subject(s) - thriving , qualitative research , resistance (ecology) , psychological resilience , politics , psychology , sociology , social psychology , social science , political science , ecology , law , biology
Using the data from two ongoing studies of resilience and thriving, one of gay men growing up in heterosexist environments, the other of women living with AIDS, we review how qualitative approaches have enabled researchers to grapple with conceptual, methodological, and ethical dilemmas related to the study of resilience and thriving. We discuss the implications our values as researchers have on determining who is thriving; the powerful social, cultural, and political contexts that must be considered when investigating the effects of and resistance to adversity; and the implications of conceptualizing thriving as a process. Finally, we consider the opportunities opened up by qualitative analysis and suggest some avenues for future research.