Tuesday 15th May
Research, Reflexivity and Knowledge.
• What does it mean to be reflexive in research?
• What is the difference between being reflective and reflexive?
• What is the difference between ‘participant observation’ and ‘participant objectivation’?
• What philosophy underpins reflexivity?
• How does reflexivity fit in between the notions of subjectivity and objectivity?
• What is ‘radical doubt’?
• What is the role of language in reflexivity?
• How can my research project be reflexive?
In this fourth session we will extend our consideration of ‘subjectivity’ and ‘objectivity’ in the direction of ‘reflexivity’. We will undertake a small reflective exercise and use this as the basis of a reflexive dialogue. The discussion will cover issues of how the researcher is situated in their research from a position of ‘participant objectivation’. The concepts of ‘theory’, ‘paradigm’, and ‘language’ will be used to focus on the limits of research knowledge and the foundation of ‘reflexive objectivity’. The concept of structure will be introduced. We will connect the theme for this week with the ‘triangle of practice’ we have been exploring.
Practical Tasks:
• Write a reflective account of an incident you have experienced recently where something unexpected happened.
• Now write a reflexive account of this account?
• Adopt a similar approach to your professional context and/or research project.
• What is the status of the knowledge produced?
Background Readings:
Boud, D., Keogh, R. and Walker, D. (Eds.) Reflection: Turning Experience into Learning. London: Kogan Page. Chapters. Intro., 3, 10.
Bourdieu, P. (1977) Outline of a Theory of Practice. Cambridge: CUP. pp.1 – 9.
Bourdieu, P. and Wacquant, L. (1992) An Invitation to Reflexive Sociology. Oxford: Polity: especially I.6, III.3 and 5.
Carr, W. and Kemmis, S. (1986) Becoming Critical: Education, Knowledge and Action Research. Chapter 5 and 6. Lewes: Falmer Press.
Morse, J. M. (1994) Critical Issues in Qualitative Research Methods. London: Sage: Chapter 9.
Schön, D. (1983) The Reflective Practitioner. London: Temple Smith.
Schön, D. (Ed.) (1991) The Reflective Turn. London: Teachers College Press.
Woolgar, (Ed.) (1988) Knowledge and Reflexivity: New Frontiers in the Sociology of Knowledge. London: Sage.
Van Manen, M. (1990) Researching Lived Experience. Ontario, Canada: The Althouse Press: Chapter 4.