Transpersonal Research Methods for the Social Sciences: Honoring Human Experience

Front Cover
SAGE Publications, Apr 29, 1998 - Social Science - 354 pages

There is no shortage of research methods that are easily applied to the study of everyday human experience. How, though, does one attempt to study extraordinary human experiences ultimate values and meanings, peak experiences, transcendence, and heightened awareness, among others? Authors William Braud and Rosemarie Anderson introduce a series of transpersonal research methods that are intended to help researchers develop new ways of knowing and methods of inquiry. While these methods will be of particular interest to researchers in transpersonal psychology, humanistic psychology, or transpersonal studies applied to traditional fields, the authors argue that these approaches with their emphasis on developing intuition, empathy, self-awareness can benefit anyone involved in the research enterprise.

With its solid grounding in transpersonal studies and extensive coverage of qualitative approaches without ignoring quantitative approaches, Transpersonal Research Methods for the Social Sciences will be an invaluable addition to the libraries of researchers across many disciplines, as well as a supplement in research methods courses.

 

Contents

Chapter 1 Conventional and Expanded Views of Research
3
Chapter 2 A Preview of New Methods
27
Expanded Methods of Disciplined Inquiry
33
Complementary Ways of Knowing Being and Expression
35
A Transpersonal Approach
69
Philosophy Reflections and Recent Research
95
Feminine Spirituality Meets Transpersonal Research
114
The Reflexive Role of Exceptional Human Experience
128
Further Extensions
211
Chapter 11 An Expanded View of Validity
213
Chapter 12 Additional Suggestions Ethical Considerations and Future Challenges
238
Synopses of Five Transpersonal Approaches to Research
256
Synopses of Six Related Research Approaches
264
Synopses of 17 Conventional Methods of Disciplined Inquiry
270
Centers for Transpersonal Studies
284
References
287

Applying the Principles Selected Examples
147
Chapter 8 Alternative Ways of Knowing Encountering and Collecting Data
151
Chapter 9 Alternative Ways of Working With Data Engaging and Confronting Data
174
Chapter 10 Alternative Ways of Presenting Results Expressing and Communicating Findings
192
Index
307
About the Contributors
317
Copyright

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