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Interpretive Interactionism
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Interpretive Interactionism

Second Edition

Volume: 16

October 2001 | 208 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc

"Interpretive Interactionism argues strongly for a new approach to qualitative research methods. Writing primarily for established practitioners and advanced graduate students, Denzin seeks to fuse influences of symbolic interactionist, hermeneutical, feminist, post-modern, and critical-biographical thought into his personal approach to research, which he calls interpretive interactionism. This work cleaves to the forefront of the field through its unapologetic advocacy of the subjective, its emphasis on the biographical, and its appeal for experimentation in new writing conventions. Readers who want acquaintance with current thinking in the field will find it well synthesized in this volume. This is one of the simplest and clearest presentations of his work Denzin has offered in years."

-CONTEMPORARY SOCIOLOGY 


 
Preface
 
1. Interpretive Criteria in the Seventh Moment
Interpretive Criteria in the Seventh Moment

 
The Performance Turn

 
Experiences and Performances

 
Performing Montana

 
Conclusions

 
 
2. The Interpretive Point of View
Performing Racial Memories

 
Personal Biography

 
The Interpretive Heritage

 
Opening Up the World for Interpretation

 
What Is Interpretive Interactionism?

 
Interpretation and Science

 
History, Power, Emotion, and Knowledge

 
The Criteria of Interpretation

 
The Agenda

 
Conclusions

 
 
3. Securing Biographical Experience
Exemplars

 
Overview

 
Narrative's Moment

 
Selves, Narratives and Sacred Places

 
Interpreting and Biographical

 
Conclusions

 
 
4. The Interpretive Process The Steps to Interpretation
Framing the Research Question

 
Deconstruction

 
Capture

 
Bracketing

 
Construction

 
Contextualizing

 
Evaluating Interpretive Materials

 
Conclusions

 
 
5. Situating Interpretation
Time, History, and Mapping

 
Learning the Language and Its Meanings

 
Researcher as Newcomer and Knowing Subject

 
Conclusions

 
 
6. Thick Description
A Double Crisis

 
Thick Description as Performative Writing

 
Examples of Thick Description-as-Inscription

 
Thin Description-as-Inscription

 
Good and Bad Thick Description

 
Conclusions

 
 
7. Doing Interpretation
Exemplars of Interpretation

 
What Interpretation Does

 
Types of Interpretation and Exemplars

 
Performing and Representing Interpretation

 
Understanding

 
Conclusions

 
 
8. Conclusion: On Interpretive Interactionism
Interpretation

 
Biographical Experience

 
Reading and Writing Experience

 
Fiction and Interpretation

 
Interpretive Interactionism in the Postmodern Period

 
 
Glossary of Terms
 
References
 
Index

An insighful and very thought provoking book that explores the craft of qualitative research. Denzin as always brings the soul into the 'scientific research' and beautyfully talks about data analysis and research paradigms

Mr Fergus Hogan
Department of Applied Arts, Waterford Institute of Technology
May 22, 2015

This book is a serious player for anyone who is considering a research higher degree. Professor Denzin lays out his research method in a logical and readable way. Interpretative Interactionism is a hugely useful research method!!

Mr Nick Purkis
Interprofessional Studies, Winchester University
August 30, 2013

Excellent text book which addresses the complexities of philosophical aspects research

Mr Michael Hall
Management , City College Norwich
August 27, 2011

This title is also available on SAGE Research Methods, the ultimate digital methods library. If your library doesn’t have access, ask your librarian to start a trial.