Malin Åkerström
Professor emerita
Curiosity and Serendipity in Qualitative Research
Författare
Summary, in English
This presentation argues that we seldom speak of our findings in qualitative research as serendipitous, although we have splendid possibilities to make surprising findings. In order to enhance the chances and sharpen our analyses we have to read broadly but also pay attention to details in our data. We should avoid societal or scholarly conventionality, even be disobedient to recommendations, if
this blinds us to new meanings of our findings. The value of serendipitous findings lies in the fact that they diverge from conventionally held knowledge. Thus, we have to retain our curiosity, with the “strange intoxication” or passion that Max Weber wrote about in Science as Vocation.
this blinds us to new meanings of our findings. The value of serendipitous findings lies in the fact that they diverge from conventionally held knowledge. Thus, we have to retain our curiosity, with the “strange intoxication” or passion that Max Weber wrote about in Science as Vocation.
Avdelning/ar
- Sociologi
Publiceringsår
2013
Språk
Engelska
Sidor
10-18
Publikation/Tidskrift/Serie
Qualitative Sociology Review
Volym
IX
Issue
2
Fulltext
- Available as PDF - 271 kB
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Dokumenttyp
Artikel i tidskrift
Förlag
Lodz University
Ämne
- Sociology (excluding Social Work, Social Psychology and Social Anthropology)
Nyckelord
- serendipity
- curiosity
- qualitative methods
Status
Published
Forskningsgrupp
- Kriminal- och socialvetenskapligt nätverk
ISBN/ISSN/Övrigt
- ISSN: 1733-8077