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Engaged Scholarship : Taking responsibility for the politics of our method mediations

Barinaga, Ester LU (2016) p.155-172
Abstract
The essay argues that between the world we aim to study and the realities we describe there is no straight, neutral relation. Instead, through our scientific practices we simplify that world as well as contribute to shape it. Methods are not mere procedures to mirror the world; rather, methods mediate between the world and our descriptions of it, and in the process they contribute to both simplify and produce the reality thus described. In this light, research becomes a continuous process of simplifying the world and crafting reality.
This has strong political consequences. For, what realities should we contribute to strengthen and what to weaken? And, what requirements are to be put on method mediations if we want to work for more... (More)
The essay argues that between the world we aim to study and the realities we describe there is no straight, neutral relation. Instead, through our scientific practices we simplify that world as well as contribute to shape it. Methods are not mere procedures to mirror the world; rather, methods mediate between the world and our descriptions of it, and in the process they contribute to both simplify and produce the reality thus described. In this light, research becomes a continuous process of simplifying the world and crafting reality.
This has strong political consequences. For, what realities should we contribute to strengthen and what to weaken? And, what requirements are to be put on method mediations if we want to work for more just, equal and freer societies? One answer to these questions is found in a scholarship of engagement. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
host publication
Challenging Entrepreneurship Research
editor
Landström, Hans ; Parhankangas, Annaleena ; Fayolle, Alain and Riot, Philippe
pages
155 - 172
publisher
Routledge
ISBN
9781138922310
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
e59a57ab-3bba-4d2d-9a1c-acfc3625359e
date added to LUP
2019-02-05 11:09:20
date last changed
2019-02-06 16:50:28
@inbook{e59a57ab-3bba-4d2d-9a1c-acfc3625359e,
  abstract     = {{The essay argues that between the world we aim to study and the realities we describe there is no straight, neutral relation. Instead, through our scientific practices we simplify that world as well as contribute to shape it. Methods are not mere procedures to mirror the world; rather, methods mediate between the world and our descriptions of it, and in the process they contribute to both simplify and produce the reality thus described. In this light, research becomes a continuous process of simplifying the world and crafting reality.<br/>This has strong political consequences. For, what realities should we contribute to strengthen and what to weaken? And, what requirements are to be put on method mediations if we want to work for more just, equal and freer societies? One answer to these questions is found in a scholarship of engagement.}},
  author       = {{Barinaga, Ester}},
  booktitle    = {{Challenging Entrepreneurship Research}},
  editor       = {{Landström, Hans and Parhankangas, Annaleena and Fayolle, Alain and Riot, Philippe}},
  isbn         = {{9781138922310}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{155--172}},
  publisher    = {{Routledge}},
  title        = {{Engaged Scholarship : Taking responsibility for the politics of our method mediations}},
  year         = {{2016}},
}