Title: Introduction to "turns" in qualitative research
Course: EDPS0009: Researching Education and Society: Qualitative Methods 2020/2021 > Section: 7. "Turns"

Over the course of several weeks, we have now talked about how theoretical frameworks, ethical processes, methodological choices around methods and analytical lenses shape research. We have also learned about reflexivity, an attitude to doing research that means we acknowledge all our beliefs or thoughts and through which we try to mitigate any negative impact our belief system may have on our research. As such we have already hinted at the role of the researcher in the research. This week I would like to deepen this content a little bit further.

We have said that the researcher could influence or shape the conversation in an interview, for example. At the same time, we have talked about the limitations of some of the methods. Obviously, these thoughts are not new. In fact, ever since the social sciences started to embrace quantitative and qualitative research approaches, there were scholars - individuals and groups - who were "unhappy" about some elements of social science research. That is how change has happened over time.

One concern, for example, relates to the power relationship between the researcher and the participant. The research "belongs" to the researcher; it is the researcher's agenda that is pursued; the researcher creates the process and the data collection methods, writes the questions and analyses the data.

Take a moment to reflect on this. How do you think the participants in a research will feel, if they have no control or agency in the research process?

Another concern is about data collection methods. Think about how you communicate with your friends. Which means do you use? Think about how your communication differs depending on the people you communicate with and how it changes depending on the platforms you use. And now think about interviews or questionnaires. Do the interviews and questionnaires reflect how you communicate in everyday life?

These kinds of questions and reflections are the starting point for all sorts of changes that have happened and continue to happen in social sciences research.

Now, if there are enough people pushing for the same kind of developments and changes, then we tend to talk about a "turn". There are many turns in qualitative research, but for the purposes of this module we will focus on 5: the narrative turn, reflexive turn, creative turn, embodied turn and the participatory turn.