Using Discursive Reflexivity to Enhance the Qualitative Research Process

Abstract

Through reflecting upon two extracts from conversational interviews with a young mother, this paper explores the discursive nature of research interviews. Informed by discursive psychology (Potter and Wetherell, 1987), and positioning theory (Davies and Harré, 1990), a reflexive commentary is set out which locates the generation of narrative data both within the interactional dynamics of the interview and also the wider social discourses which frame such conversations. The article demonstrates that attention to discursive processes may enhance the robustness of qualitative research by facilitating reflexivity, which despite being central to qualitative methodology, is often challenging to accomplish. In addition, the potential for utilizing an awareness of discourse to enhance aspects of the qualitative research process such as literature reviewing and research training is also discussed.