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"Tensions That I'm Having to Navigate": Reflections on Qualitative Approaches From Behavior Analyst Researchers.

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Summary

Behavior analysts exploring qualitative research critically examine scientific assumptions. This reflexive approach questions objectivity, truth, and knowledge access, fostering a broader understanding of research methodologies.

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Area of Science:

Behavior Analysis
Qualitative Research Methodologies

Background:

Behavior analysts traditionally operate within quantitative research paradigms.
There is a growing interest in integrating qualitative approaches within behavior analysis.
Navigating qualitative research presents unique challenges for behavior analysts trained in quantitative methods.

Purpose of the Study:

To critically evaluate assumptions of objectivity and reflexivity in research.
To explore the tensions experienced by behavior analysts when engaging in qualitative research.
To stimulate imagination for the potential of qualitative research within behavior analysis.

Main Methods:

Critical collaborative autoethnography.
Collective processing of individual researcher reflections through group conversations.
Modeling discomfort as a tool for reflexive thinking.

Main Results:

Qualitative approaches prompt fundamental questions about the nature of science, the location of truth, and knowledge accessibility.
Tensions arise from integrating qualitative methods into a field historically dominated by quantitative approaches.
Reflexivity and critical evaluation of assumptions are highlighted as key outcomes.

Conclusions:

Qualitative research offers valuable perspectives for behavior analysts, challenging traditional paradigms.
An uncritical idealization of qualitative methods should be avoided; embracing discomfort is crucial for growth.
This reflexive exploration can align researcher values with broader field principles, enhancing scientific inquiry.