Curiosity and Serendipity in Qualitative Research
(2013) In Qualitative Sociology Review IX(2). p.10-18- Abstract
- This presentation argues that we seldom speak of our findings in qualitative research as serendipitous, although we have splendid possibilities to make surprising findings. In order to enhance the chances and sharpen our analyses we have to read broadly but also pay attention to details in our data. We should avoid societal or scholarly conventionality, even be disobedient to recommendations, if
this blinds us to new meanings of our findings. The value of serendipitous findings lies in the fact that they diverge from conventionally held knowledge. Thus, we have to retain our curiosity, with the “strange intoxication” or passion that Max Weber wrote about in Science as Vocation.
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/4434010
- author
- Åkerström, Malin LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2013
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- serendipity, curiosity, qualitative methods
- in
- Qualitative Sociology Review
- volume
- IX
- issue
- 2
- pages
- 10 - 18
- publisher
- Lodz University
- ISSN
- 1733-8077
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 60b86464-49a9-49fe-bbd9-dd48d8052eb5 (old id 4434010)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-04 09:14:13
- date last changed
- 2018-11-21 20:51:43
@article{60b86464-49a9-49fe-bbd9-dd48d8052eb5, abstract = {{This presentation argues that we seldom speak of our findings in qualitative research as serendipitous, although we have splendid possibilities to make surprising findings. In order to enhance the chances and sharpen our analyses we have to read broadly but also pay attention to details in our data. We should avoid societal or scholarly conventionality, even be disobedient to recommendations, if<br/><br> this blinds us to new meanings of our findings. The value of serendipitous findings lies in the fact that they diverge from conventionally held knowledge. Thus, we have to retain our curiosity, with the “strange intoxication” or passion that Max Weber wrote about in Science as Vocation.}}, author = {{Åkerström, Malin}}, issn = {{1733-8077}}, keywords = {{serendipity; curiosity; qualitative methods}}, language = {{eng}}, number = {{2}}, pages = {{10--18}}, publisher = {{Lodz University}}, series = {{Qualitative Sociology Review}}, title = {{Curiosity and Serendipity in Qualitative Research}}, url = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/5268940/4434012.pdf}}, volume = {{IX}}, year = {{2013}}, }