Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

To what extent can we consider a report of qualitative research as factual? This article seeks to answer that question in the context of recent critical reviews of Street Corner Society. This essay discusses a critique by W A. Marianne Boelen and the deconstruc tionist perspective introduced by Laurel Richardson and Norman Denzin. I argue that there are such things as physical and social facts. This involves a distinction between observation and interpretation. Observation focuses on things that can be directly observed or otherwise documented. Interpretation can only be inferred from the actor's own account of his behavior and the reports of others on him. Another important cnterion for judging the value of a case study report is the extent to which others can build on its conclusions for further theorizing or new studies. That is one important road toward behavioral science advances.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Adler, P. A., & Adler, P. (Ed.). (1992). SCS revisited [Special issue]. Journal of Contemporary Ethnography , 21.

Boelen, W.A.M. (1992). SCS: Cornerville revisited. Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, 21, 11-51.

Denzin, N. (1992). Whose Cornerville is it anyway? Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, 21,120-132.

Denzin, N. (1994). The art and politics of interpretation In D. Lincoln & Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.), Handbook of qualitative research (pp. 500-515). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Freeman, D. (1983). Margaret Mead and Samoa: The making and unmaking of an anthropological myth Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Harvey, O.J. (1953, August). An experimental approach to the study of status relations in informal groups. American Sociological Review.

Mekeel, S. (1943, December). Comparative notes on the social role of the settlement house as contrasted with the United States Indian Service . Applied Anthropology.

Orlandella, A.R. (1992). Boelen may know Holland, Boelen may know Barzini, but Boelen "doesn't know diddle about the North End." Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, 21, 69-79.

Richardson, L. (1992). Trash on the corner: Ethics and technography. Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, 21, 103-119.

10.

Vidich, A.J. (1992). Boston's North End: An American epic Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, 21, 80-102.

11.

Whyte, W.F. (1943). Street corner society Chicago : University of Chicago Press.

12.

Whyte, W.F. (1955). Street corner society (2nd ed.). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

13.

Whyte, W.F. (1981). Street corner society (3rd ed.). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

14.

Whyte, W.F. (1993). Street corner society (4th ed.). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Qualitative Sociology and Deconstructionism

Abstract

Get full access to this article

References