Qualitative Research as Jazz

Abstract

A metaphor of qualitative research as jazz is developed to illuminate qualities embedded in processes of qualitative inquiry. The jazz metaphor creates a pathway for making explicit the tacit understandings that enable us to make our way as researchers without fully orchestrated scores. As jazz is guided by a deep structure of chord progressions and themes, qualitative inquiry is guided by epistemological principles, socially constructed values, inquiry focuses, and findings emerging through analytic methodologies such as constant comparison.The horn played a phrase. Soft and short. The drums answered. The horn said the same thing all over again. The drums repeated it. The next time it was more intricate.

“I Can't Wait to See Carlos!”: Preservice Teachers, Situated Learning, and Personal Relationships with Students

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Pooled Case Comparison: An Innovation for Cross-Case Study

“…Thus, as we conducted the analysis, we brought to the process a level of background knowledge unavailable to those working from a bank of others' data. Reading a research report, or even examining raw data, is not the same as being present in a research context (West & Oldfather, 1994). Direct engagement in interpretive research brings about a different quality of knowing.…”

Female, Mosher, Transgressor: A 'Moshography' of Transgressive Practices within the Leeds Extreme Metal Scene

“…If the researcher needs to invent, or piece together new tools or techniques, he or she will do so". Examples of inventive, mishmash patchwork as qualitative research include cinematic montage (Denzin, 2002), jazz (Oldfather and West 1994), swing (Spry 2010), torch singing (Holman Jones 2002), dance (Janesick 1998), poetry (Diversi 1998), and quilting (Flannery 2001). Along similar lines, Alim (2007) argued for an approach to hip-hop ethnography which echoed in "metaphoric" ethnographic fieldwork, e.g., "hiphopography" (Alim 2007: 163) ;Lashua and Fox (2007) referred to their ethnographic research making mash-ups of rap, metal, soundscape, country and traditional First Nations music as "remixology".…”