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Contextual Inquiry as a Critical Perspective in Research

Bednar, Peter LU (2010) European Conference on Research Methods in Business and Management p.61-69
Abstract
Human systems create problem spaces that are ambiguous, uncertain and constantly changing. This requires researchers to find approaches to inquiry that can be used to explore inconsistent and ill-defined phenomena. Much analytical work is done without in-depth consideration of context. This means that important dimensions are lost – rigour in investigation is prioritised over relevance. Research must be able to engage with inquiry into contextual dependencies at multiple levels. We experience the world individually, creating our own unique understandings. Furthermore, our experiences of context change continually and different individuals’ experiences of the ‘same’ context vary widely. A relevant resolution in a situation requires... (More)
Human systems create problem spaces that are ambiguous, uncertain and constantly changing. This requires researchers to find approaches to inquiry that can be used to explore inconsistent and ill-defined phenomena. Much analytical work is done without in-depth consideration of context. This means that important dimensions are lost – rigour in investigation is prioritised over relevance. Research must be able to engage with inquiry into contextual dependencies at multiple levels. We experience the world individually, creating our own unique understandings. Furthermore, our experiences of context change continually and different individuals’ experiences of the ‘same’ context vary widely. A relevant resolution in a situation requires attention to contextual dependencies, but what makes it relevant and from whose point of view? Thus, a mindset is needed that recognises uniqueness and accommodates for a creative process of discovery, which needs to be conceptualised. This paper discusses contextual inquiry as a critical perspective in research. (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
Contextual Inquiry, Critical Perspectives, Systems Thinking.
host publication
Proceedings of ECRM 2010
editor
Esteves, Jose
pages
8 pages
publisher
Academic Publishing
conference name
European Conference on Research Methods in Business and Management
conference location
Madrid, Spain
conference dates
2010-06-24
ISBN
97801-906638-64-1
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
b5b32f8e-088c-4a60-b206-0d4af29eef24 (old id 4318053)
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 12:04:05
date last changed
2018-11-21 21:08:48
@inproceedings{b5b32f8e-088c-4a60-b206-0d4af29eef24,
  abstract     = {{Human systems create problem spaces that are ambiguous, uncertain and constantly changing. This requires researchers to find approaches to inquiry that can be used to explore inconsistent and ill-defined phenomena. Much analytical work is done without in-depth consideration of context. This means that important dimensions are lost – rigour in investigation is prioritised over relevance. Research must be able to engage with inquiry into contextual dependencies at multiple levels. We experience the world individually, creating our own unique understandings. Furthermore, our experiences of context change continually and different individuals’ experiences of the ‘same’ context vary widely. A relevant resolution in a situation requires attention to contextual dependencies, but what makes it relevant and from whose point of view? Thus, a mindset is needed that recognises uniqueness and accommodates for a creative process of discovery, which needs to be conceptualised. This paper discusses contextual inquiry as a critical perspective in research.}},
  author       = {{Bednar, Peter}},
  booktitle    = {{Proceedings of ECRM 2010}},
  editor       = {{Esteves, Jose}},
  isbn         = {{97801-906638-64-1}},
  keywords     = {{Contextual Inquiry; Critical Perspectives; Systems Thinking.}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{61--69}},
  publisher    = {{Academic Publishing}},
  title        = {{Contextual Inquiry as a Critical Perspective in Research}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/5919726/4616204.pdf}},
  year         = {{2010}},
}