Thinking with Theory in Qualitative Research

by Alecia Youngblood Jackson, Lisa A. Mazzei

Winner of the 2013 American Educational Studies Association's Critics Choice Award! Thinking With Theory In Qualitative Research shows how to use various philosophical concepts in practices of inquiry; effectively opening up the process of data analysis in qualitative research. It uses a common data set and utilizes various theoretical perspectives through which to view the data. It challenges qualitative researchers to use theory to accomplish a rigorous, analytic reading of qualitative data. "Plugging in" the theory and the data produces a variety of readings applying various theorists and their concepts,

Genres: Nonfiction, Education, Philosophy, Academic, Research, Qualitative Research

168 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2011

Reviews

[Beth Armstrong · Rating 5 out of 5]

For someone doing qualitative research, this is an amazing resource. The authors explain in an understandable way how to appropriate six major poststructural researchers -- Derrida, Spivak, Foucalt, Butler, Deleuze, and Barad -- using examples from their research.

This was not an easy book to read by any means, simply because the authors packed so much into 150 pages. I often had to stop at the end of a paragraph to scribble notes in the margin, my way of processing what I was reading. This resource will be oft-cited in my dissertation.

[Cheryl Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found it incredibly helpful in rethinking data analysis. Good companion to Jackson and Mazzei's other text: Voice in Qualitative Research

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book explored going beyond merely framing research theoretically to incorporating that theory into their development of a research question and analysis of the data. These authors challenged the traditional methods by presenting research through the lens of six scholars in poststructuralist and new materialist traditions. The authors interviewed two first generation academic women and analyzed the raw data from interview transcripts using six different perspectives. The research question in each chapter changed greatly through the lens of Derrida, Spivak, Foucault, Deleuze, Butler, and Barad. Jackson & Mazzai.

Quote to Remember:
“we go to each of the theorists because they help us think something that we cannot think otherwise, or”a move to begin creating a language and way of thinking methodologically and philosophically together

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I would have had this in-depth explanation of critical theory and its practical applications in my master's. As a new doctoral student - I am in a doctoral program for education - I truly appreciated the authors' using their own research examples to explain multiple theoretical perspectives (Derrida, Spivak, Foucault, Butler, Deleuze, and Barad) in qualitative research. While the authors are repetitive in their use of examples, they do so to show how a particular example from their research is used through a specific theoretical lens. Also, I liked how the chapters were set up, first the authors explain the theory, including schemes (vocabulary terms), then provide a detailed explanation of how the theory worked in their own research with examples and explanations.

[Sue Lyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a qualitative researcher I really enjoyed this book. I love the practical way the authors showed how using different theoretical perspectives give very different insights into the same raw data. A refreshing and inspiring way to think about the analysis of qualitative date by 'plugging in' to theory. Has made me think deeply about how the theoretical lens you bring to bear on data changes how you see it.

[amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super useful, if sometimes bewildering — but maybe that's my lack of experience reading & writing with Deleuze & Guattari, Barad, Butler. Recommend re-reading the intro & ch. 1 after finishing the book in order to revisit the "maneuvers," threshold analogy, and other framing concepts. Or read faster than I did so you don't forget.

[Margaret Robbins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would highly recommend this book to those who are interested in data analysis through poststructural theory. I found it helpful and insightful, and it gives pragmatic examples as well as a more in-depth explanation of theory.

[Melvin]

Read the following chapters:
- Introduction (pp. vii-xv)
- Chapter 1 - Plugging one text into another (pp. 1-14)
- Interlude VI: Why Barad? (pp. 110-117) & Chapter 2 - Barad: Thinking with intra-action (pp. 118-136)
- Chapter 8 - Diffractions (pp. 137-139)

[Hasselhh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably the best theory and method book I've read while on university