Presenter: Jenny Chen 9722602Instructor: Dr. Jia-Chyi YanDate: November 16, 2009

I. Pragmatic Function of Writing: Presentation of Results

II. Legitimizing Function of Writing

III. Reflexive Function of Writing

IV. Dissolution of Science into Styles of Writing?

V. The Future of Qualitative Research: Art or Method?

Functions of writing in qualitative research:

for presenting the findings of a project1

for evaluating the proceedings and the results2

for reflexive considerations3

Presenting Findings

1. A clear analytic story.

2. Writing on a conceptual level.

3. The clear specification of relationships among

categories.

4. The specification of variations and their relevant

conditions, consequences, and so forth.

(Strauss & Corbin, 1990)

1. organized by means of a generic conceptual

framework

2. the generic framework employed was novel

3. the framework was elaborated or developed

4. the framework was eventful

5. the framework was interpenetrated with the

empirical materials

(Lofland, 1974)

(Van Maanen, 1988)

Confessional Tales

RealistTales

Impressionist Tales

Presenting Findings

1. The author is absent from the text.

2. Emphasis is laid on the typical forms of what is studied.

3. The viewpoints of the members are emphasized in the presentation.

4. Presentations may seek to give the impression of “interpretive omnipotence”.

Realist Tales

personalized authorship and authority

a mixture of descriptions of the studied object

and the experiences made in studying it

Confessional Tales

dramatic recall

step-by-step in a fragmentary way

to maintain the tension for the readers and to

convey consistency and credibility

Impressionist Tales

seek to bring social issues to the reader’s attention

aim at the presentation of theoretical relationships

Critical Stories

Formal Stories

realist

impressionist

confessional

not to fear to take position

systematically integrate negative cases and contrast extremely different cases

consider the potential reader as a central focus

seek to persuade other scientists and potential readers

(Becker, 1986)

The Internet• faster• more space and less cost• more material

CDs or DVDs• transfer richer material and analyses

Privacy?

Trustworthiness

Credibility

Presentation

experience

construction

interpretation

the role and the self-awareness of the qualitative researcher

claims of qualitative research

The original motive?

“deep

diversity”

Thank you for your attention!