Original scientific paper
Researching Communication: The Interpretive Approach between Theory and Practice
Samo Uhan
; Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
Abstract
A proper understanding of communication research and the way it has been carried out cannot emerge without some consideration of the theoretical backgrounds of the different methodological approaches to communication analysis. In the last few years the most important progress has been made in the field of so called reflexive methodology. According to Alvesson and Sköldberg, the syntagm reflexive methodology (2000) denotes complex relationships between the knowledge-development processes and variable contexts in which knowledge develops, including all actors.
The aim of the paper in that sense is to present some influences of the poststructuralist theory that are relevant to qualitative methodological strategies in communication studies. The paper begins with presenting the key theses of structuralist and poststructuralist approaches. This is followed by the section devoted to the central figure of Derrida and deconstruction. Then an illustration is given of some of the implications of poststructuralism for empirical research of communication. In that part also some specific proposals are offered on possible ways of coping with the complexity of the research process. The paper closes with a discussion opening some space for more critical evaluation.
Keywords
poststructuralism; reflexive methodology; deconstruction; empirical research; communication
Hrčak ID:
105677
URI
Publication date:
27.6.2013.
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