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The Social Functionality of Humor in Group-Based Research
Rebecca Hewer1, Katherine Smith1, Gillian Fergie2
11 University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland.
Qualitative Health Research
|October 21, 2018
Summary
Humor can positively impact health policy research by easing power dynamics and fostering relationships in citizens
Area of Science:
- Qualitative health research
- Deliberative democracy
- Public policy analysis
Background:
- Citizens' juries offer a platform for public deliberation on complex policy issues.
- Health inequalities present a significant challenge requiring innovative research approaches.
- Traditional research methods may not fully capture the nuances of sensitive health policy discussions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the facilitative role of humor in group-based research on sensitive health policy issues.
- To examine how humor can influence power dynamics and relationships within citizens' juries.
- To contribute to the literature on deliberative forums and qualitative health research.
Main Methods:
- Reflection on experiences from three citizens' juries focused on health inequalities.
- Analysis of participant and researcher engagement in humor production.
- Qualitative examination of humor's impact on group dynamics and relationships.
Main Results:
- Humor was actively produced by both participants and researchers.
- Humor was observed to challenge prevailing power dynamics.
- Humor facilitated the development of positive relationships within the juries.
Conclusions:
- Humor can play a positive and facilitative role in deliberative research on sensitive health policy topics.
- Researchers, especially in health policy, should consider reflexively engaging with humor.
- This study contributes novel insights into humor's role in qualitative research and deliberative fora.
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