KWALON

This editorial offers an introduction to the current issue.

This essay firstly acknowledges the joyful euphoric ‘Aha-Erlebnis’ in discovering a simple typology to summarize diversity in a puzzling set of data. Then it is argued that joy is not enough to assure validity of the insight won. Ways are suggested for providing both theoretical and empirical evidence for the scientific quality of an empirically founded typology.

A reaction to the essay of Harrie Jansen

A reaction to the essay of Harrie Jansen

Answer of author to the reactions on his article ‘Typology construction: Between euphoria and empirical validity’

The labeling of auto-ethnography as navel-gazing does not do justice to the variety with which auto-ethnography is applied. A distinction should be made between emotional and analytical auto-ethnography. In the first form the central person of the researcher plays the central role, in the second auto-ethnography is applied to get a better understanding of the social world which is being studied. In this article the author discusses the second approach by using the work of Jeff Ferrell. Ferrell is a well-known cultural criminologist, who focuses critically on the cultural understanding of social life. By looking at how Ferrell applies auto-ethnography, insight is gained into the added value of this method for qualitative studies: (1) the integration of the personal experiences of researchers in texts in order to achieve a richer description of the social worlds they explore, (2) making explicit the role of the researcher in publications, and (3) developing new (more appealing) forms of representation.

The author has done research on delinquent behavior of Moroccan boys by doing fieldwork among them. Making sure the group of Moroccan boys accepted him in their midst took some convincing, as the author is sure you will understand. How do you get a group that is hostile towards society and carries a stigma to accept a researcher and cooperate with the research? In this article the author will explain how he went about gaining their trust mostly by being himself and with a bit of luck.

In this article the author will discuss ethical difficulties she encountered during her PhD-research on child-headed households in South Africa. Her idea that children are capable actors was not only different from existing principles in childhood research, but also from local ideas. The difficult environment in which the children and youngsters lived caused more ethical or methodological problems.

In this contribution the author reviews Research in action: Theories and practices for innovation and social change by C. Almekinders, L. Beukema & C. Tromp.

Reaction to book review of Research in action: Theories and practices for innovation and social change by C. Almekinders, L. Beukema & C. Tromp.

Answer of author on the reaction to book review of Research in action: Theories and practices for innovation and social change by C. Almekinders, L. Beukema & C. Tromp.