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Lessons from jazz improvisation to qualitative inquiry and reflective practice

Bjerstedt, Sven LU orcid (2017) p.90-94
Abstract
In this presentation I will focus on lessons from the arts to qualitative inquiry, especially, what reflection on jazz improvisation may bring to qualitative inquiry. First, I will make the general suggestion that qualitative investigations, seen as reflective practices, have much in common with – and probably much to learn from – jazz improvisational practices. The complex processes of hermeneutic understanding include laying bare the researcher’s pre-understanding as well as, in the interpretation of statements, the dynamics between their holistic coherence and the agent’s intentions. Through interview excerpts, the important phenomenon of breaks in the conversational flow will be shown to have great signficance to qualitative inquiry as... (More)
In this presentation I will focus on lessons from the arts to qualitative inquiry, especially, what reflection on jazz improvisation may bring to qualitative inquiry. First, I will make the general suggestion that qualitative investigations, seen as reflective practices, have much in common with – and probably much to learn from – jazz improvisational practices. The complex processes of hermeneutic understanding include laying bare the researcher’s pre-understanding as well as, in the interpretation of statements, the dynamics between their holistic coherence and the agent’s intentions. Through interview excerpts, the important phenomenon of breaks in the conversational flow will be shown to have great signficance to qualitative inquiry as a reflective practice, pointing to improvisational practices as relevant providers of solutions to the problematic dynamics of understanding, pre- understanding, self-understanding and misunderstanding. Second, I will discuss a number of ’lessons’ that reflection on jazz improvisation may bring to qualitative research. One lesson concerns the dynamics of different kinds of authenticity. ust as jazz improvisation can be authentic in more than one way, so can research. A second lesson concerns the dynamics of observation and interpretation. Just as jazz improvisation can be viewed both as a response to external impulses and as a manifestation of internal gestures, so can research. A third lesson concerns identity. Just as the notion of changing narrative identity can be seen as key to jazz improvisation, so may an expanded notion of prolonged engagement emerge as highly relevant to qualitative research processes. (Less)
Abstract (Swedish)
In this presentation I will focus on lessons from the arts to qualitative inquiry, especially, what reflection on jazz improvisation may bring to qualitative inquiry. First, I will make the general suggestion that qualitative investigations, seen as reflective practices, have much in common with – and probably much to learn from – jazz improvisational practices. The complex processes of hermeneutic understanding include laying bare the researcher’s pre-understanding as well as, in the interpretation of statements, the dynamics between their holistic coherence and the agent’s intentions. Through interview excerpts, the important phenomenon of breaks in the conversational flow will be shown to have great signficance to qualitative inquiry as... (More)
In this presentation I will focus on lessons from the arts to qualitative inquiry, especially, what reflection on jazz improvisation may bring to qualitative inquiry. First, I will make the general suggestion that qualitative investigations, seen as reflective practices, have much in common with – and probably much to learn from – jazz improvisational practices. The complex processes of hermeneutic understanding include laying bare the researcher’s pre-understanding as well as, in the interpretation of statements, the dynamics between their holistic coherence and the agent’s intentions. Through interview excerpts, the important phenomenon of breaks in the conversational flow will be shown to have great signficance to qualitative inquiry as a reflective practice, pointing to improvisational practices as relevant providers of solutions to the problematic dynamics of understanding, pre- understanding, self-understanding and misunderstanding. Second, I will discuss a number of ’lessons’ that reflection on jazz improvisation may bring to qualitative research. One lesson concerns the dynamics of different kinds of authenticity. ust as jazz improvisation can be authentic in more than one way, so can research. A second lesson concerns the dynamics of observation and interpretation. Just as jazz improvisation can be viewed both as a response to external impulses and as a manifestation of internal gestures, so can research. A third lesson concerns identity. Just as the notion of changing narrative identity can be seen as key to jazz improvisation, so may an expanded notion of prolonged engagement emerge as highly relevant to qualitative research processes. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
jazz improvisation, qualitative inquiry, reflective practice
host publication
European Congress of Qualitative Inquiry Proceedings 2017: QUALITY AND REFLEXIVITY IN QUALITATIVE INQUIRY
editor
Hannes, Karin ; Heylighen, Ann ; Dierckx de Casterlé, Bernadette ; Truyen, Frederik and Declercq, Anja
pages
5 pages
publisher
KU Leuven NQRL
ISBN
9789067841979
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
4a8ca861-e535-46ae-ba65-1c8edc603d6c
alternative location
https://kuleuvencongres.be/ECQI2018/ecqi-2017-proceedings.pdf
date added to LUP
2017-09-24 20:31:26
date last changed
2019-03-08 02:18:07
@inproceedings{4a8ca861-e535-46ae-ba65-1c8edc603d6c,
  abstract     = {{In this presentation I will focus on lessons from the arts to qualitative inquiry, especially, what reflection on jazz improvisation may bring to qualitative inquiry. First, I will make the general suggestion that qualitative investigations, seen as reflective practices, have much in common with – and probably much to learn from – jazz improvisational practices. The complex processes of hermeneutic understanding include laying bare the researcher’s pre-understanding as well as, in the interpretation of statements, the dynamics between their holistic coherence and the agent’s intentions. Through interview excerpts, the important phenomenon of breaks in the conversational flow will be shown to have great signficance to qualitative inquiry as a reflective practice, pointing to improvisational practices as relevant providers of solutions to the problematic dynamics of understanding, pre- understanding, self-understanding and misunderstanding. Second, I will discuss a number of ’lessons’ that reflection on jazz improvisation may bring to qualitative research. One lesson concerns the dynamics of different kinds of authenticity. ust as jazz improvisation can be authentic in more than one way, so can research. A second lesson concerns the dynamics of observation and interpretation. Just as jazz improvisation can be viewed both as a response to external impulses and as a manifestation of internal gestures, so can research. A third lesson concerns identity. Just as the notion of changing narrative identity can be seen as key to jazz improvisation, so may an expanded notion of prolonged engagement emerge as highly relevant to qualitative research processes.}},
  author       = {{Bjerstedt, Sven}},
  booktitle    = {{European Congress of Qualitative Inquiry Proceedings 2017: QUALITY AND REFLEXIVITY IN QUALITATIVE INQUIRY}},
  editor       = {{Hannes, Karin and Heylighen, Ann and Dierckx de Casterlé, Bernadette and Truyen, Frederik and Declercq, Anja}},
  isbn         = {{9789067841979}},
  keywords     = {{jazz improvisation; qualitative inquiry; reflective practice}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{90--94}},
  publisher    = {{KU Leuven NQRL}},
  title        = {{Lessons from jazz improvisation to qualitative inquiry and reflective practice}},
  url          = {{https://kuleuvencongres.be/ECQI2018/ecqi-2017-proceedings.pdf}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}