Open AccessMysteries and Qualitative Research? Review of Mats Alvesson and Dan Kärreman’s Qualitative Research and Theory Development: Mystery as Method
Author(s) -
Tom Strong
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
the qualitative report
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.335
H-Index - 35
ISSN - 2160-3715
DOI - 10.46743/2160-3715/2012.1801
Subject(s) - reflexivity , epistemology , sociology , postmodernism , social constructionism , qualitative research , strict constructionism , development theory , empirical research , social science , philosophy , economics , market economy
In an era of postmodern and social constructionist thought, qualitative researchers have experienced method as a mess. This time of conflict and tension has contributed to concerns and questions about researchers’ interpretive and reflexive contributions to the study of social reality. Into these confusing times, Mats Alvesson and Dan Kärreman, social constructionist researchers, take a novel approach to how qualitative research can inform theory development. They suggest researchers embrace the mysteries when trying to make sense of social situations by taking a reflective and interpretive approach towards their empirical material to create results that can challenge established theory and thus inspire novel lines of theory development.