2005/01/01 by Katja Mruck, Mruck, Katja, Günter Mey +1
Health Professions · Social Sciences · #Education Methods and Technologies #Forschung #Health and Medical Studies #Sociology and Education Studies #Sozialforschung #qualitative Methode #qualitative method #research #social research
paper · pdf · doi:10.12759/hsr.30.2005.1.5-27
openalex publication_date 2005/01/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Given the great impact of qualitative research onmany disciplines and the diversity of methods used by qualitativeresearchers, this contribution can offer only a briefschematic overview of: 1) principal methodological orientations,2) selected shared paradigmatic premises (especiallythe principles of "openness," of "being a stranger," and of"communication") that go beyond disciplinary boundaries,and 3) historical aspects (for German qualitative research,we differentiate four phases: a) re-importation and theoreticalfoundations, b) practical expansion, c) the technical versusthe reflexive turn, and d) consolidation and establishment).The article will focus on qualitative research in Germany,using sociology as an example in which qualitativeresearch has thrived ("qualitative Leitdisziplin"), contrastingthis with psychology as an example in which qualitative researchremains rather peripheral. This will be followed by anoverview of qualitative research from an international perspective.In closing, we will discuss challenges facing instructionin qualitative research in Germany.