Qualitative Research in Psychology

While post-positivism maintains its privileged status, research grounded on a qualitative
paradigm or what Braun and Clarke (2013) called “Big Q qualitative research” has become
established as a respectable option for psychologists. At the same time, the conventional
humanist approach to qualitative research found in many works and textbooks has been
challenged by the growing field of postqualitative inquiry (PQI) and the critical posthumanities.
While this challenge has been a topic of discussion within certain qualitative communities,
qualitative psychologists have largely refrained from addressing it, with the notable exception of
Brinkmann (2017). To change this oversight, this special issue seeks to invigorate discussion by
inviting contributions that explore the potential use of the critical posthumanities and PQI on the
field of psychology. We seek manuscripts that render the ideas accessible and valuable for those
who have not studied the “posts”. Some key questions that fall under the scope of the special
issue include:
 What is the so-called “humanism” that posthumanists are turning away from through
critique? What is the so-called “conventional qualitative research” approach that
postqualitative scholars are trying to deconstruct?
 What can PQI and the critical posthumanities contribute to psychological knowledge?
 What is the relation between the critical posthumanities, PQI, and scientific inquiry?
 Is the subject model developed from “post” theories suitable for studying the subject in
psychology?
 Are there any truly substantial reasons for considering PQI and the critical
posthumanities in psychology, or is this merely a passing trend?
 What does it mean to be a good postqualitative researcher?
 How does a specific example of PQI scholarship look like in action?
 How can posthuman and postanthropocentric thinking inform psychology research and
practice?
 What are the ethical, methodological, and political implications of the critical
posthumanities and PQI?
 How can conventional and post qualitative researchers work together to enrich qualitative
psychology?

References
Brinkmann, S. (2017). Humanism after posthumanism: or qualitative psychology after the
“posts”. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 14(2), 109-130.
Clarke, V., & Braun, V. (2013). Successful qualitative research: A practical guide for
beginners. London: Sage.

Submission Instructions
In the first instance, short abstracts outlining ideas for papers (400 words maximum)
should be submitted to Javier Monforte and Brett Smith by 1 October 2023.
We will invite authors of a selection of these proposals to submit full papers by December
2023.
As with any peer review process at this journal, there is no guarantee that your paper will be
accepted. Your paper should be prepared in accordance with the journal's Instructions for
Authors. We hope the special issue will be published in 2024.

Instructions for AuthorsSubmit an Article