Learning from experience: psycho-social research methods in the social sciences

Abstract

There is a growing interest in both psychoanalytically informed theory and practice in the social sciences. Psycho-social studies and psychoanalytic studies address serious social and political issues through a critical welding of sociological and psychoanalytic perspectives. This raises the question: how do we actually use this form of analysis in the practical research environment? In this article, the author seeks to outline a psycho-social research method - in other words, how we do it - and to introduce the reader to both the advantages and problems of doing psychosocial research. This is framed within the context of a research project in which the author explores racism in higher education.