Interpretive Interactionism

By Norman K. Denzin

Book Overview

"The book represents a valuable tool . . . . Important sociological and anthropological work is reviewed in this analysis . . . . This work should be invigorating to scholars in psychology who appreciate symbolic interactionism work."

--Contemporary Psychology

"These volumes make a useful contribution . . . . All three share the aim of developing methodologies for investing the activities of groups or individuals which will enable researchers to understand those activities from the perspective of the people involved."

--Times Higher Education Supplement

"I believe most sociologists will find this work useful because of several contributions. Of particular merit here is the development of the sociological enterprise along lines of the ′′sociological imagination.′′ Denzin not only adds to the Mills tradition, but also extends it . . . . Most useful for those also versed in phenomenological and cognitive theories."

--Teaching Sociology

"Interpretive Interactionism argues strongly for a new approach to qualitative research methods. Writing primarily for established practitioners and advanced graduate students; Denzin seeks to fuse influences of symbolic interactionist, hermeneutical, feminist, post-modern, and critical-biographical thought into his personal approach to research, which he calls interpretive interactionism. this work cleaves to the forefront of the field through its unapologetic advocacy of the subjective, its emphasis on the biographical, and its appeal for experimentation in new writing conventions . . . . Readers who want acquaintance with current thinking in the field will find it well synthesized in this volume. . . . This is one of the simplest and clearest presentations of his work Denzin has offered in years."

--Contemporary Sociology

"This is a valuable book for those interested in understanding and working with people to change either them or society."

--Journal of Nervous & Mental Disease

"Offers valuable interpreting and writing tips for the psychologist who is investigating such social issues as alcoholism and marital problems. "True to his message of interpretation, Denzi′s style of writing is clear with perhaps the most fully explained examples if the series. . . . A highly articulate work which is so engagingly written that it encourages one to refer to it from time to time just to read the amusing stories associated with interpretive research. It is well crafted and designed to familiarize the reader with all aspects of interpretation."

--British Journal of Psychology

"A welcome addition to the literature on qualitative research methodology."

--Qualitative Studies in Education

When should the interpretive approach be used in research? How can this approach be used to evaluate programs which have been created to deal with "real life" problems? Interpretive Interactionism offers a practical, step-by-step discussion on how this method is carried out. It distinguishes this method and approach from other related methods such as: hermeneutics, ethnographies, participant observation, life histories, case histories, dramaturgical methods, and semiotics. Further, it demonstrates the differences between interpretation and other, more traditional social science aims. Using data from an extensive study of Alcoholics Anonymous as a continuing example, the book provides a new approach to data collection and analysis in applied problems.

Clearly written with an abundance of examples, it makes the methods and strategies of this research approach easily accessible to students and researchers in education, social work, sociology, educational psychology, and anthropology.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0803930038
• ISBN13: 9780803930032
• Release Date: August 1970
• Publisher: SAGE Publications, Incorporated
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.8" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Insightful & Analytical

For years I've taught about the importance of context in communication, but no one makes the case for its importance any clearer than Denzin. He uses violence to drive his point home. Violence has no meaning in isolation. In somekind of context, the meaning changes. There is violence in war, violence as revenge, violence committed randomly. Context frames understanding. Isolation keeps it ambiguous.Largely this book is about methodology. It helps scholars interpret data once its been collected. In fact, data collection is filled with meaning-making choices. Denzin goes beyond methodology, however and gives insight into larger issues. He frames his discussion well. There's a lot to mentally digest in this book.