Doing ‘judgemental rationality’ in empirical research : the importance of depth-reflexivity when researching in prison

Quraishi, MM; Irfan, L; Schneuwly Purdie, M; Wilkinson, MLN

Abstract

Critical realist thought has theorised convincingly that ontological realism is constellationally embedded in epistemic relativism which in turn necessitates judgemental rationality. In social science, judgemental rationality involves acting upon plausible decisions about competing points of view. However, the tools for doing this are, as yet, under-articulated. This paper addresses this absence by articulating triangulation and depth-reflexivity as two tools for doing judgemental rationality in empirical research. It draws on the experiences of a diverse team working on an international comparative research project on conversion to Islam in prisons. It demonstrates how epistemic and relational gaps between researchers and research subjects can be bridged by mobilising the ‘laminated’ properties and personal attributes of a diverse research team that factors in attributes that are absent as well as those present. The biographical experiences of the team are analyzed in a variety of intersecting dimensions: faith, ethnicity/ethno-culture, gender, class and professionality.

Citation

Quraishi, M., Irfan, L., Schneuwly Purdie, M., & Wilkinson, M. (2022). Doing ‘judgemental rationality’ in empirical research : the importance of depth-reflexivity when researching in prison. Journal of Critical Realism, 21(1), 25-45. https://doi.org/10.1080/14767430.2021.1992735

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 10, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Nov 5, 2021
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2022
• Deposit Date: Nov 9, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 9, 2021
• Journal: Journal of Critical Realism
• Print ISSN: 1476-7430
• Electronic ISSN: 1572-5138
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• Volume: 21
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 25-45
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14767430.2021.1992735
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/14767430.2021.1992735
• Related Public URLs: https://tandfonline.com/toc/yjcr20/current