Textual Performance in Qualitative Social Research

• Applicant: Dr. Laura Behrmann
• Subject Area: Empirical Social Research
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 514262487

Within the network framework, we focus on a quality criterion of qualitative social research that has been neglected so far: textual performance. Against the background of recent contributions to independent quality criteria in qualitative social research, it is evident that qualitative social researchers face a double challenge. On the one hand, their texts should translate between worlds of meaning, and on the other hand, they should convince the audience. How these requirements are realized in different publication formats and which publication regimes are documented in this is the subject of the network. To this end, the network takes up suggestions from the sociology of science and science and technology studies and current contributions to the empirical foundation of social science methodology. Therefore, the academic network "Textual Performance of Qualitative Social Research" pursues two goals: (1) We will discuss and explain the largely implicit quality conventions of presenting qualitative research within three publication formats: Journal articles, monographs, and reports with recommendations for action. (2) We aim to link the German-language discussion back to international debates. The academic network comprises 19 academics who represent diverse methodological and methodological perspectives within qualitative social research. They enable the network to be analytically oriented towards methodological characteristics and publication formats. The work program includes six meetings at which we will systematically discuss the raised questions. The network work will begin with a national conference in cooperation with the 'Qualitative Social Research' section of the German Sociological Association. The subsequent working meetings we dedicate to a qualitative social research publication format. The network will connect to the international discussion from the kick-off meeting onwards by inviting international guests. We will solicit sessions and contributions at international conferences in the further course. Regarding publications, the network will first publish a debate article in a professional journal that maps the field of "Textual Performance in Qualitative Social Research." Furthermore, we will submit an English-language overview paper in a peer-reviewed journal (for instance Qualitative Research). Finally, we will bundle the discussion of the network work in the joint publication of an English-language special issue.

• DFG Programme: Scientific Networks
• Co-Investigator: Dr. Oliver Berli