Culture of Inquiry

Prinicpal problems and Concerns

-main concern is influencing change with the intent to solve social problems

-statement of intentions and values more than an inquiry

-need to empower the participants in order for them to see the benefit of change

Epistemological Assumptions

-can use any of the research methods -involves immediate solution to a problem and contributes to theory and knowledge

Relationship between the researcher and subject

-researcher plays the role of facilitator over being neutral

Personal Reaction

I see this method as a valuable tool to help solve real problems while using methodological processes. I like the fact that as an action researcher you are playing the role of facilitator rather than directing the way the research is taking place.

Prinicpal problems and Concerns

-phenomenology's primary concern is to understand the real world and it questions the individuals ideas and assumptions of the meaning of phenomena.

-Edmund Husserl's phenomenological philosophy was concerned is concerned with descritpive reflection of consciousness and phenomena

-study of appearances

Epistemological Assumptions

-acceptance of mentation and intentionality

-there is an internal reason for an individuals choices and preferences

-there is an understanding between the observer and the observed

Relationship between the researcher and subject

The phenomena must be identified and articulated and then the "what" question is asked. The researcher is immersed in the topic and must be as empathic as possible. As opposed to the saying an outer body experience, the researcher will have an inner body experience by being immersed in the experience.

Personal Reaction

Phenomenology apears to be quite complex yet I am not certain it is the research method for me as I embark on my research journey. As much as I enjoy listening and watching people, I also like to know the 'why' of things and not just the what. Phenomenology according to (Bentz, Shapiro, 1998) "does not explain, but rather it creates understanding among the set of observers and observed".

Prinicpal problems and Concerns

-researcher must be totally immersed in the culture or group

-researcher attempts to answer questions about the group in question

-according to Bentz and Shapiro, (1998) "it attempts toundercut common sense and ideoloigcal understandings by looking at how people really do things and experience the world" (p. 118)

Epistemological Assumptions

-three forms, description, interpretation and explanation

-theory is based on the process of descritption and how it's interpreted

-the data is dependant on the research question that is guiding the study and the way those results are interpreted

Relationship between the researcher and subject

-researcher is totally immersed in teh said group or culture

-as a researcher it is very difficult to detach yourself from your own society

this type of research required a rigorous amount of note taking and then a requirement to discuss with your colleagues in order to interpret your findings

Personal Reaction

-my reaction to this type of inquiry is that it is interesting as cultures fascinate me. However I am not certain I could remain neutral as being human I would form bonds and attachements making it ddifficult to 'detach' myself and remain neutral