Mindful inquiry in social research / Valerie Malhotra Bentz, Jeremy J. Shapiro.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 192-205) and index.

Research The New Context and a New Approach -- From Positivism to Postmodernity The Mindful Inquirer as a Philosopher -- Mindful Inquiry as the Basis for Scholarly Practice -- Fundamentals of Mindful Inquiry -- The Scholarly Practitioner Facing the Loss of Identity through the Onslaught of the Information Age -- The Cultures of Inquiry and Research Traditions -- Phenomenological Inquiry -- Hermeneutic Inquiry and Ethnography -- Quantitative and Behavioral Science, Action Research and Evaluation Research -- Comparative-Historical Inquiry and Theoretical Inquiry -- Critical Social Science and Critical Social Theory -- Conclusion and Magic Formulae.

"In this innovative introduction to research in the social and human sciences, Valerie Malhotra Bentz and Jeremy J. Shapiro guide students through the maze of research traditions, cultures of inquiry, and epistemological frameworks that blanket the intellectual landscape. The goal of their approach is to help the researcher survive and flourish in today's often confusing multicultural, multiparadigm research environment where disciplines overlap. Postmodernism and multiculturalism have shattered the traditional unitary model of scientific research; and the emerging global, informational economy is producing new economic, social, cultural, and political problems and new research questions. Their solution is mindful inquiry-empowering the researcher both psychologically and philosophically by putting the researcher, rather than research techniques, at the center of the research process. The mindful inquirer uses awareness of self-personal, social, and historical - to shape the research project or dissertation and keep it expressive and responsible to the traditions of scholarly research. ; While grounding their own approach in a synthesis of critical theory, phenomenology, hermeneutics, and Buddhism, Bentz and Shapiro explain the forces that have produced the current epistemological crisis and introduce the reader to the underlying logic, rather than the detailed methods and techniques, of 10 cultures of inquiry-ethnography, quantitative behavioral science, phenomenology, action research, hermeneutics, evaluation research, feminist research, critical social science, historical-comparative research, and theoretical research. Mindful Inquiry in Social Research not only clarifies conceptual and intellectual traditions in research but also puts researchers squarely in the investigative saddle, able to choose, justify, and explain the intellectual framework and personal rationale of their research. ; For many students, beginning researchers, and scholarly practitioners, Mindful Inquiry in Social Research will provide clarity, grounding, and good preparation for a challenging research task such as a dissertation, thesis, major paper, or professional research project. While helping the researcher survive epistemological diversity, it will also help turn the research project into a positive contribution to the researcher's life and personal development, rather that a detour or a hindrance."--Publisher description.

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