Qualitative Debate Argument and Notes

I.                 They must prove that qualitative work is both narcissistic and unprofitable fiction.

a.      In order to argue narcissism, they need to prove intentionality on a large scale, which is near impossible.

b.      In order to argue unprofitable fiction, they must prove that qualitative work is both composed on known falsities and is not useful.

c.      I argue that all research provides temporary truths which are useful as long as they can be sites for further inquiry.

II.               Calling qualitative work fiction assumes that research can create both true and untrue products.

a.      If there are wrong types of knowledge production (qualitative work), then there must be right modes of knowledge production which provide objective truths.

b.      We know that this is not the case. In Kuhn’s The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, Kuhn explains that all scientific truth is temporary; It is incremental. Therefore, all we cannot fully attribute objective truths to any research method.

III.              Modes of knowledge production (manufacturing of facts) are inherently tied to the culture in which they arise; what is and can be true is defined by those who devise the method of knowledge production.

a.      This is an idea that arises out of Shapin and Schaffer’s Leviathan and the Air-Pump which chronicles the social influences on science during the early days of the scientific method.

b.      Robert Boyle’s explanation of empirical research is that it relies on a coalescing of belief. Research that has emerged from empiricism, whether qualitative or otherwise, still relies on this dictum.

c.      Furthermore, the way that we go about doing research predetermines what we are able to see. Following the conventions of experimental work, if multiple people are able to see it, then it becomes fact.

IV.              Facts (and thus truth) are bound entirely to the society or culture in which they are produced. If there is a culture—qualitative studies—that sees its own work as truth, then it is just as valid for that population as experiment results are to scientific communities. Therefore, qualitative work cannot be fiction; if it is observed and felt as true within a community then it is just as true as any other methodology.

Qual needs quant observations to be useful; qual cannot get us to places, make discoveries; qual is better for social justice, shouldn’t be political;

How can conflict lead to good?; how is the work not narcissistic?; studies the plight of others;

We acknowledged narcissism; what truly is the rigor of qualitative work?

Just because we believe something to be true does not make it material; we can miss data and facts because of our own failures;

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  What is truly profitable?

-        Rigor exists in the social processes of peer review

-        What is true?