Qualitative + Mixed methods/ Philosophy
Interpretivism
Understand situated meanings
Interpretivism seeks understanding of social action through the meanings people make within particular historical and social contexts. Researcher interpretation is part of producing knowledge. It encompasses several traditions rather than one uniform method, and should not be collapsed into constructivism, which makes more specific claims about how knowledge or realities are constructed.
WHEN IT FITS
Use when the central question asks how participants understand, experience or enact a social situation and when contextual meaning would be lost through measurement alone.
Strengths
- Preserves context and participants' different interpretations
- Supports detailed accounts of meaning and social practice
Limitations
- Findings require an argument for transfer to other settings
- Researcher interpretation demands reflexive scrutiny
Know the boundary
Interpretivism does not mean that every interpretation is equally well supported.
USED ACROSS
Banking & financeBusiness & MBAPsychologyComputer scienceEducation