Interactive research in a constructionist perspective Dian Marie Hosking geocities.com/dian_marie_hosking

science science = one way of knowing –what is “normal” (science) or ‘orthodox’, abnormal or heretical… changes narratives in/of science Naïve realism Constructivism Social Constructionism …

Naive realism reality & relations –singular, universal, ‘object out there’ & –available to be known by separate subject sense data –provide knowledge of the world (sense taking) language –re-presents this knowledge (the world) research interest –knowing ‘the world as it really is’

constructivism sense data are the basis for –‘perception’ …constructive sense making –knower combines what it is ‘in the head’ with what is ‘in the world’ reality –singular, universal, ‘object out there’ & –available to be known by separate subject language: re-presents sense-making research interest: –knowing ‘the world as it really is’

Continuing taken-for-granteds reality –singular language –representative function separate ontologies –individual agent, ‘internal’ & ‘external’ worlds interest: –one voice (Science) defines… –other interests?

relational constructionism reality: –multiple –(re)constructed in inter-action –co-constructed neither subjective nor objective but –relational ontology language: –is action, is performative –a local-cultural practice or ‘form of life’ scientific interests: –what & how of reality construction processes

research as a reality construction process the Received View of Science (RVS) –constructs separate ontologies - –relations between knower & known i.e., –Subject-Object relations this is just one way of constructing relations self & other & relationship –can be viewed as ongoing (re)constructions –in S-O relations or..?

Focusing on construction processes de- centers persons & relations between persons centers processes of relating texts: –words, pictures, actions, symbols... –to other words, pictures, actions, symbols... constructions/relational realities are: –multiple & –partial/local relating = person & world making ‘becoming realism’

Interactive inquiry All inquiry is inter-action a relational constructionist thought style offers ways of self & world making through inter-actions that: –are open to multiple local realities –are provocative (of possibilities) –create ‘power to’ go on in different but equal relations –are reflexive

Reflexivity 1 in RVS: to minimise bias in knowledge claims revision: making bias visible post modern: –S cannot speak for O –telling ourselves a story about ourselves (Chia) –opening up to multiple constructions & –multiple self-other relations that are in ongoing re- construction Reflexivity as an epistemological issue

Reflexivity & relational constructionism an aspect of ‘becoming’, of ontology & so: –a feature of the processes of relating –part of ongoing research process concerns how are we ‘going on’ together the local realities are we constructing ‘…a case for the end of knowing & the rediscovery of development’ (Newman & Holtzman)

Inquiry as development methodology as ‘tool & result’ how we do things – the ‘tool’, the becoming process - matters because we are (re)producing particular forms of life –no theory of truth –no theory of knowledge distinct from opinion Inquiry is now radically reconstituted

Inquiry as inter-action inquiry may be constructed as ‘development’ –constructing ‘solidarities’ (Rorty) & not objectivity –local rationalities as praxis, norms, justifications…, having –‘only an ethical base, not an epistemological or metaphysical one’ (Rorty, p24)

Constructing ‘power to’ open and appreciative of multiplicity performative –not ‘just talk’ focuses on how we participate including multiloging –who gets to participate and how? –how is multiplicity appreciated?