Narrative analysis as philosophical research: Bridging the gap between the empirical and the conceptual |
| |
| Authors: | Paul Smeyers Piet Verhesschen |
| |
| Institution: | Qualitative Research Management , Santa Barbara |
| |
| Abstract: | There is a longstanding debate about what can be expected from philosophy of education and what its place can be in educational theory. A remarkable resemblance can be found between the debate about the usefulness of qualitative research methods and the kinds of insights they produce. The debate between proponents of empirical (quantitative) research and of qualitative research can be traced to the opposition between the need for understanding and the desire to manipulate. We argue that empirical qualitative research is of a similar nature to philosophical research, its aim being mainly to understand a human practice. We offer a framework that allows the clarification of what may be expected from an educational science and consequently from qualitative research methods: taking as one?s starting point human experience, providing comments, and thus trying to open the eyes of others to particular human realities. |
| |
| Keywords: | |
|
|
