Rumbling on performativity_Frits Simon

has to respond to questions regarding a generalizable perspective on research, or an
anti-foundational and thus relativistic perspective on research. In the discussion about
relevance and external and internal validity of radically reflexive research I will argue
for a reconstructive (Wagner, 1999) social realistic (Lewis and Smith, 1980) perspective;
a position in between of a realistic and anti-foundational orientation (see 2.3).
Thereafter I will take up the debate around the soundness of the auto-ethnographic
research (see2.4) and later on the endorsed importance of ethical considerations
within auto-ethnography (see 2.5). A complex responsive process-approach is drawn
in these considerations about soundness and ethics.
2.3 Framing relevance, external and internal validity of
research from an auto-ethnographic and a complex
responsive process perspective
Up till now I made three different claims regarding relevance and external and internal
validity. First I claimed that in my research I came to understand that ontology and
epistemology are not to be distinguished, with far reaching consequences for the way
you are able to take responsibility for your research. Secondly and in line with the first
claim I claimed that a complex responsive process-approach departs from a reconstructive
and social realistic perspective, a perspective on reality somewhere between
realism/positivism and postmodernism/anti-foundationalism. Thirdly I doubted if
reflexive research is as easily to compare with other research-approaches as done by
Verschuren (2009), although as may be seen Verschuren develops a comparative set of
criteria for different approaches of research, including what he calls a reflective approach.
Verschuren’s comparison will help to clarify my claims.
Practice based research making use of N or n
Verschuren’s basic notion is that for practice-based research criteria for relevance, and
external and internal validity must be approached in almost the same way as compared
with the most common, theory-driven research. However, practice-based research
is research which aims at solving a specific problem in a specific situation and
as such also has to fulfil different criteria if to be of value.
Within practice-based research Verschuren differs between research in which large
group of persons (N) become involved (e.g. to develop governmental policy) and in
which a small group of persons (n) becomes involved (e.g. research to reorganize a
department). Insider and reflective research belong to n-research. According to Verschuren
theory-driven research is the kind of research which is done mostly at universities
and has been too long the sole standard for all research. Practice-based research
demands other criteria and accents if to be worthwhile.
44