Naturalistic Inquiry

Yvonna Lincoln

SERA 2008

New Orleans, LA

Part One

A Paradigm Shift…

The Naturalist Paradigm

• Prepositivist Era

• Positivist Era– John Stuart Mill’s A System of Logic (1843)

• Postpositivist Era

Comparison of Inquiry Types

Axioms Conventional Inquiry

Naturalistic Inquiry

Reality Fragmented; singular; atomistic (variables)

Multiple; holistic; indivisible (context)

Subject-object Dualistic relationship; separate entities

Monistic relationship; Known and knower in deep interaction

Truth Statements

Generalizations (tested over time)

Working hypotheses

Causality Statements

Linear

A + B C

Mutually interactive; Mutually influential

Inquirer stance / Values Role

Objectivity; distance; value-free

Interactivity; intersubjectivity; Value-bound

Reality

• Objective

• Perceived

• Constructed

• Created

Hermeneutic Dialectic Circle

Subject-Object

• Threats to validity– Test-wiseness– Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle

Truth Statements

• Grounded Theory?

• Meta-analysis of cases

• Malconstructions

• Misconstructions

• Provisional Knowledge

Causality Statements

• Mutual Causality

• Anticipatory behavior

Inquirer Stance / Values Role

• Implicit in conventional, but overcome through large samples

• Nearly impossible to be objective from self-created quasi-reality

• Must have “Critical subjectivity”

Trustworthiness

Conventional Naturalistic Authenticity Criteria

Internal Validity Credibility; Plausibility Fairness; Balance

External validity Transferability Ontological

Reliability Dependability Educative

Objectivity Confirmability Catalytic

Tactical

Rely on Method Rely on Data Rely on Ethical System

Writing as Form of Inquiry

• Laurel Richardson• Postmodernist views

– Doubts any theory or method or knowledge has privileged status

– Suspects all truth claims– Doubts superiority of science over literature

• Poststructuralism– Links language, subjectivity, social

organization, and power

Experimental Writing

• Writing of social science need not be tied to discourse of science

• Both a violation of prescribed method and a way of knowing oneself and one’s material

• Process as important as product• Evocative texts

– Experiential– Inner Struggle

Types of Evocative Texts

• Narrative of the self• Fiction• Poetry• Drama• Performance science• Poly-vocal texts

• Responsive readings• Aphorisms• Comedy and satire• Visual presentation• Mixed genres

Part Two

Doing Naturalistic Inquiry …

Designing Experiment

• Proposal – Problem statement

• Action• Conceptual • Value

• Context and Theoretical Framework• Purpose

– Objectives– Research questions

Designing Experiment (cont)

• Procedures– Sampling

• Probability; Simple Random, Stratified Random, Multi-Stage, Cluster, Systematic

• Non-probability: Voluntary Response, Snowball, Convenience, Quota, Purposive

• Data• Collection and analysis

– Asterisk first pseudonym and add confidentiality footnote

• Interpretive Process

Hermeneutic Dialectic Circle

Interviewing – Studs Terkel

• Curiosity about other people is most important part– Find attribute common to humanity– Improvisation– Be open to anything

• Polls are for selling things• Why do they feel the way they do?

– Not what is, but what can be (untapped potential)

• People have to feel needed

Conducting Experiment

• Field notes– Structured vs. unstructured interview– Unobtrusive measures– Nonverbal communication

• Transcriptions• Unitization• Sorting & Categorization• Writing

– Conference papers– Journal articles– Second study

• Book

Unitization (Content Analysis)

• Copy transcripts

• Use visible color

• Jot down figures of speech as possible category labels

• Sort cards

• Organize piles into outline format

• Peer debriefing

Writing

• Writing down• Writing up• Guidelines:

– Original research questions– Salience

• Most cards• Most visceral reaction

– Nature of case study you intend to write• Realist• Confessional • Impressionist

Nature of Case Studies

• Realist tales– Etic point of view– Unproblematic / monumentalized– Ignore history / future– Strictly descriptive, rather than product of interactions

• Confessional tales– Demystifies fieldwork– Highly personalized style– Companion / subsequent piece to realist tale

Nature of Case Studies (cont)

• Confessional tales (cont)– Happy ending– Empathy– Performance of culture

• Impressionist tales– Striking but rare event– Leave interpretation to reader– Stand alone

Reporting and Record-Keeping

• Audit trail• Quotations

– Specific Notation– [iM11.10/25/07.3]

• Citations– Author– Title in italics

• Reference List

• Master list of names and contacts– Separate from case

study!

• Secure for 3 years• Reduce descriptive

indentifiers for small populations