sdecond part

A Brief History of Qualitative Research

Historical background of current methods and their diversity may explain this diversity and allow locating the single approach in the wider field of qualitative research.

Psychology and social sciences in general have a long tradition

of using qualitative methods.

In American sociology, biographical methodg case studies, and descriptive

methods were central for a long time

The United states

German- Speaking Areas

The traditional period (1900 to 1945

The modernist ( 1945 to the 1970s)

Blurred genres ( until the mid 1980s)

Identify eight moments of qualitative

research

Crisis of representation ( since the mid 1980s )

Fifth moment ( the 1990s)

Sixth moment ( postexperimental writing

Seventh moment (Qualitative Inquiry or Qualitative

Research , 2000 to 2004 )

Eight moment ( the future and new challenges - since 2005 )

Early studies (end of nineteenth and early

twentieth centuries)

Phase of import (early 1970s)

Beginning of original discussions (late 1970s)

Developing original methods (1970s and 1980s)

Consolidation and procedural questions (late

1980s and 1990s)

Research practice (since the 1980s)

Methodological proliferation and technologicaI

developments (since the 1990s)

Establishing quatitative research (Journals, book

series, scientific societies-since the 1990s)

Qualitatiive Research at the End of Modernity

Recent diagnoses

in the sciences result in more reasons to turn to qualitative research.

The modern science is dysfunctional y tiene four tendencies for empirical social research in philosophy and science

A returnto the oral traditions-carried out by empirical studies in philosophy,linguistics, literature, and the social sciences by studying narratives, language,and communication

A return to the particular-carried out by empirical studies with the aim"not only to concentrate on abstract and universal questions but to treat again specific,concrete problems which do not arise generality but occur inspecific types of situations

A return to the local-studied by systems of knowledge, practices,and experiences in the context of those traditions and ways of living in which they are embedded, instead of assuming and attempting to test their universal validity

Are turn to the timely-problems are studied and solutions to be developed in their temporal or historical context and to describe them in this context and explain them from it.

Landmarks in Qualitative Research

Knowledge about qualitative research is helpful in two ways

It can provide the

starting point and basis for doing your own empirical study

It is also necessary for understanding and assessiag existing qualitative research.