Transforming Psychology: Interpretive and Participatory Research Methods

Abstract

Transforming psychology, the title of this volume, refers to the personal and social transformations that take place through the work we do, as well as to our goal of transforming the field of psychology itself through the inclusion of the interpretive and participatory methods described here. In this volume we examine how these methods have been and continue to be incorporated into the field of psychology and the challenges researchers have faced in doing so. We examine the epistemological foundations upon which these methods are based and provide a series of exemplars to illustrate the variety of ways in which interpretive and participatory methods are being applied. Finally, we discuss some of the barriers that remain to fulfilling this goal of transformation within our work and within our discipline.