This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (3) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Maxwell, J. A. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Reemergent Scientism, Postmodernism, and Dialogue Across Differences

George Mason University

The reemergence of a narrowly defined "scientifically based research" that marginalizes qualitative approaches represents a major threat to qualitative research. A postmodern perspective not only challenges this essentialist definition of "science" but also critiques tendencies of qualitative researchers to essentialize proponents of "science". These arguments raise the issue of dialogue across the differences between researchers working in different paradigms. Such dialogue can promote a better understanding of the value of qualitative research; it can also sensitize qualitative researchers to the importance of validity concerns and alternative interpretations in their work. Addressing the latter issue strengthens the argument that at least some qualitative research can be fully "scientific" without giving up the essential characteristics of qualitative inquiry.

Key Words: qualitative research • scientifically based research • postmodernism • validity

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				E. A. St.Pierre Scientifically Based Research in Education: Epistemology and Ethics Adult Education Quarterly, August 1, 2006; 56(4): 239 - 266. [Abstract] [PDF]

				N. K. Denzin The First International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry Qualitative Social Work, March 1, 2005; 4(1): 105 - 111. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. A. Maxwell Using Qualitative Methods for Causal Explanation Field Methods, August 1, 2004; 16(3): 243 - 264. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. A. Maxwell Causal Explanation, Qualitative Research, and Scientific Inquiry in Education Educational Researcher, March 1, 2004; 33(2): 3 - 11. [Abstract] [PDF]