Feminist qualitative methods and methodologies in psychology: A review and reflection

Clarke, Victoria; Braun, Virginia

Abstract

How does the current state of the field of feminist qualitative psychological research reflect and enact the methodological characteristics and values of feminist research – principally, the values of reflexivity, methodological diversity and innovation, and the prioritisation of feminist political goals over procedural, epistemological and disciplinary orthodoxy? Using a review of the methods and methodologies used in qualitative research published in two key feminist psychology journals (Feminism & Psychology; Psychology of Women Quarterly) from 2005 to 2016 as our starting point, we reflect on practices, trends, and apparent norms in feminist qualitative researching. Despite methodological development, the absence of a fully realised feminist methodological vision raises important questions. We suggest a need to query and push back at canons or orthodoxies within the discipline, and advocate looking backward to go forwards: innovation does not have to be radical, and many of our methodological feminist foremothers have a lot to offer the present and the future of our discipline.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 1, 2018
• Publication Date: 2019-08
• Deposit Date: Dec 13, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 27, 2018
• Journal: Psychology of Women & Equalities Section Review
• Print ISSN: 1466-3724
• Electronic ISSN: 2396-8796
• Publisher: The British Psychological Society
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Keywords: critical qualitative research, discourse analysis, focus groups, experiential qualitative research, giving voice, interviews, reflexivity, thematic analysis, feminist methodology
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/854611
• Contract Date: Dec 13, 2018