Questioning the researcher's existence

from deconstruction to practice

Ben Bradley

pp. 153-161

in: Stam, Leendert Mos, Warren Thorngate, Bernie Kaplan (eds), Recent trends in theoretical psychology, Berlin, Springer, 1993

Abstract

This paper asks how we should move "beyond" social constructionist critique in psychology. It argues that an alternative to the generation of new anti-individualistic theories in "new paradigm" psychology is needed. Such psychology which gives social constructionism its brief might be made good by a more subjectively engaged form of realism. The paper shows how a justification for such a realism can be derived from postmodern critiques in psychology, instancing the deconstruction of texts in developmental psychology as illustration. Focusing on ambiguities and possibilities in the term 'subjectivity" as contrastingly espoused by Kierkegaard (1846) and Hollway (1989), it is argued that the value of empirical research will be lost in psychology if it is not seen as an invitation for the researcher to unravel the nexus of discursive and historical circumstances which constitute his or her ownmost research "interest"-that is, as an invitation to become more 'subjective". This approach has significant implications for both the conduct and "dialogic" writing-up of research.

Cited authors

Kierkegaard Søren