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Curiosity and Serendipity in Qualitative Research

Åkerström, Malin LU (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:
author
organization
publishing date
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}},
}