Situating Qualitative Methods in Psychological Science

Brian Schiff is Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychology at the American University of Paris and Director of the George and Irina Schaeffer Center for the Study of Genocide, Human Rights and Conflict Prevention. He is the author of A New Narrative for Psychology (2017), editor of Rereading Personal Narrative and Life Course (2014), and co-editor of Life and Narrative: The Risks and Responsibilities for Storying Experience (2017).

• 1. Some Historical Perspective on the Marginalization of Qualitative Methods Within Mainstream Scientific Psychology James T. Lamiell 2. Quantitative, Qualitative, or Mixed? Should Philosophy Guide Method Choice? Kathleen L. Slaney and Donna Tafreshi 3. Qualitative Methods as Fundamental Tools: Autonomy and Integration in Mixed Methods Research Frederick J. Wertz 4. Qualitative Psychology and the New Pluralism Kenneth J. Gergen 5. Qualitative Methods Enhance Our Understanding and Treatment of People with Alzheimer’s Disease Steven R. Sabat 6. Understanding Psychology, Differently Brian Schiff 7. Qualitative Psychology’s Coming of Age: Are There Grounds for Hope? Mark Freeman

"There is an extended literature on qualitative methods, with much attention given to details and technicalities. But why is there a need for such approaches at all, whether they are called non-reductionist, holistic, or meaning-centered? Why do we need methods that are radically different from those used in traditional psychology? This book offers some fundamental answers to these questions. It takes a look at psychology as a whole: as the project of a comprehensive exploration of the human being in the world. And it reminds us of its still unfulfilled promises."--Jens Brockmeier, The American University of Paris, France"This compendium of work by distinguished scholars updates our view of psychological science to include the growing recognition of qualitative inquiry. These writers tackle the hard methodological questions and argue wisely for pluralism and integration as the future of psychology. It’s a must-read for researchers."--Ruthellen Josselson, Fielding Graduate University, USA