Abductive Analysis: Theorizing Qualitative Research

by Iddo Tavory, Stefan Timmermans

“A major contribution to both the pragmatist renaissance and the transnational turn toward theorizing in qualitative research.” —Adele E. Clarke, author of Situational Grounded Theory after the Postmodern TurnIn Abductive Analysis, Iddo Tavory and Stefan Timmermans provide a new navigational map for theorizing qualitative research. They outline a way to think about observations, methods, and theories that nurtures theory formation without locking it into predefined conceptual boxes. The book provides novel ways to approach the challenges that plague qualitative researchers across the social sciences—how to conceptualize causality, how to manage the variation of observations, and how to leverage the researcher’s community of inquiry. Abductive Analysis is a landmark work that shows how a pragmatist approach provides a productive and fruitful way to conduct qualitative research.“In Abductive Analysis, Iddo Tavory and Stefan Timmermans make a case that the thought of pragmatist philosopher Charles S. Peirce—specifically, his theories of hypothetical reasoning and semiotics—can be used to guide and improve qualitative research. Every qualitatively-minded sociologist should consider their strong, well-crafted argument.” —Neil Gross, author of Richard The Making of an American Philosopher“In this ground-breaking book, Tavory and Timmermans open a new direction for qualitative inquiry that cuts across current internal divisions and debates. By reframing the logic and process of making sense of data within a pragmatic approach, they give new life to the craft of theorizing. Thoughtful and intellectually exciting, Abductive Analysis is both inspired and inspiring.” —Diane Vaughan, author of The Challenger Launch Risky Technology, Culture, and Deviance at NASA

Genres: Research Methods, Sociology, Academic

180 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 30, 2014

Reviews

[Roy · Rating 3 out of 5]

As this is an academic work, I should take a different approach to rating this. But I can’t be arsed.

The overwhelming majority of this book consists, to me, of open doors. To the point that I still don’t know whether this book understands itself as an introduction to students, or a respectable treatise of method/theory.

The notion of abduction, as juxtaposed to induction and deduction, seems brilliant, but is explored in a lacklustre way. I am happy to have been pointed toward abduction’s origins in the work of Charles S. Peirce, though, that might be useful.

For all this negativity, I do need to admit to my own position, of course. I take fundamental issue with the social sciences as they are shaped today, so this was not going to be directly relevant to me anyway. And no, I am not a practitioner, not even well-read in the field, but using quantitative methods to explain human behaviour, and holding that to be the best way? Really?

Anyway, although this definitely does not align with my personal position, it does provide me with the means to sharpen my own position — because that is basically my whole project in this first thesis of mine.

It also shows me how much I differ from a general way of perceiving qualitative research, just not yet how exactly.

Also, and on this platform most importantly, I derive extremely little satisfaction from having finished this — especially compared to the other stuff I read, whether that is literature or philosophy.

Glad to have finished my first piece of reading for it. Good start.

[Corey Colyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I assigned this book for a grad level qualitative methods seminar. In all, it's brilliant! Tavory & Timmermans offer a compelling update of the techniques associated with Grounded Theory. In addition to being accessible and targeted, the endnotes offer a jumping off point for a much deeper dive into the minutia of methodological debate.

[Ryan Schmidt]

Favorite quote: “What are does—through minute description, through the use of metaphor, by taking an odd point of view, or simply through unnatural line breaks in poetry—is to force us to confront our everyday experiences as unfamiliar and thus to gain a deeper appreciation for it.”

[Louise Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a doctoral student writing a dissertation, Tavory and Timmermans is a critical resource.

[Yisu Z. · Rating 5 out of 5]

相当相当好，很芝加哥／实用主义的一本书。通过皮尔士的semiotics把理论、观察和framing整合在一个关系型的框架下面。对思考puzzle有很大帮助。