When method fails: walking as an alt-meth in a volatile context
ISSN: 1443-9883
Article publication date: 20 June 2020
Issue publication date: 19 January 2021
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore why the use of a particular qualitative method, walking, failed in a given context, the Chile of contemporary unrest.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper explores walking methodologies from a critical cultural perspective.
Findings
The article argues that context as socio-material entanglement, or people's relation to place, in a volatile situation, requires strong participatory engagement to enable productive outcomes and also that one can learn from the failure to generate such engagement.
Practical implications
The article suggests that enhanced participant involvement in experimental design (here a walking event) is necessary when the situation on the ground is conflict-ridden. It also suggests that explicitly articulating one's outsider position may facilitate productive exchanges in volatile contexts. The article further suggests that failure of method is a neglected but useful topic in qualitative research.
Social implications
Although walking methodologies frequently claim to be participant-centered, they are not always organized in that manner. If they are not, they risk undermining the democratic potential of alt-meths that is of particular importance in volatile contexts.
Originality/value
Failure of method is rarely reported on. The paper addresses that knowledge gap.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The author would like to thank her hosts in Santiago for their patience and forbearance during the workshop, and their delightful hosting in a difficult time. Corrigendum. Corrigendum to the article Griffin, G. (2021), “When method fails: walking as an alt-meth in a volatile context”, Qualitative Research Journal, Vol. 21 No. 1, 40-50. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/QRJ-04-2020-0033. The paragraph beginning with “I left the event…” and ending with “…what had happened in the morning” on page 6 has been removed due to questions over the nature of the alleged activity taking place. The publishers apologise to readers for any inconvenience caused.
Citation
Griffin, G. (2021), "When method fails: walking as an alt-meth in a volatile context", Qualitative Research Journal, Vol. 21 No. 1, pp. 40-50. https://doi.org/10.1108/QRJ-04-2020-0033
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited