Rethinking Methods in Psychology

The recent widespread rejection of conventional theory and method has led to the evolution of different ways of gathering and analyzing data. This accessible textbook introduces key research methods that challenge psychology′s traditional preoccupation with `scientific′ experiments. The book provides a well-structured guide to methods, containing a range of qualitative approaches (for example, semi-structured interviews, grounded theory, discourse analysis) alongside a reworking of quantitative methods to suit contemporary psychological research. A number of chapters are also explicitly concerned with research as a dynamic interactive process. The internationally respected contributors steer the reader through the main stages of conducting a study using these methods.

Table of Contents:
Introduction - Jonathan A Smith, Rom Harr[ac]e and Luk Van Langenhove PART ONE: SEARCHING FOR MEANINGS Semi-Structured Interviewing and Qualitative Analysis - Jonathan A Smith Grounded Theory - Kathy Charmaz Life Story Research - Ken Plummer PART TWO: DISCOURSE AS TOPIC Conversation Analysis - Paul Drew Discourse Analysis - Jonathan Potter and Margaret Wetherell Basic Principles of Transcription - Daniel C O′Connell and Sabine Kowal PART THREE: RESEARCH AS DYNAMIC INTERACTION Role Play - Krysia Yardley Cooperative Inquiry - Peter Reason and John Heron PART FOUR: USING NUMBERS DIFFERENTLY Rethinking the Role of Quantitative Methods in Psychology - James T Lamiell Repertory Grids - Jonathan A Smith An Interactive, Case-Study Perspective Q Methodology - Rex Stainton Rogers

About the Author :
Jonathan A. Smith is Professor of Psychology at Birkbeck University of London, UK where he leads the interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) research group. He has written many articles applying IPA to a range of areas in health, clinical and social psychology. He is co- author (with Paul Flowers and Michael Larkin) of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis: Theory, Method and Research (Sage, 2009). He also has a wider interest in qualitative psychology generally and has co-edited a number of books in the area. Rom Harré is a Fellow of Linacre College, Oxford and Professor of Psychology at Georgetown University, Washington, DC

Review :
`Following on from recent debates surrounding the limitations of positivist methodologies in psychology, this book has been written in order to fill the gaps in the market for a textbook that looks at post-positivist, non-experimental methods in psychology... a useful text for those who have examined post-positivist psychology on a philosophy course at undergraduate level... The book is useful in that it focuses upon techniques and provides "tasters" of qualitative methodologies and encourages readers to try the methods for themselves in their own research projects. It is well-referenced and directs the reader to other sources of information should they wish to pursue their interests... it encourages the reader to take a wider perspective than the quasi-experimental methods presented in most methodology texts at this level. The authors encourage us to develop new ways of working and using data′ - British Psychological Society History and Philosophy of Psychology Newsletter