Outsiders and learners: Negotiating meaning in comparative European social work research practice

Elizabeth Frost,Karin Kullberg,Alessandro Sicora,Staffan Höjer,Annamaria Campanini

doi:10.1177/1473325015621124

Abstract

This paper draws on two experiences of undertaking comparative research in England, Sweden and Italy, and offers a discussion of the kinds of dilemmas raised in relation to language and meaning surfaced by these. Its primary focus is to examine the reflexive construction of meaning, both in relation generally to the workings of an international research team and, more specifically, how such construction of meaning impacts on the process of qualitative interviewing across linguistic and cultural boundaries. The article argues that a culture of reflexive research practice is helpful for approaching national differences, to facilitate understanding in internationally mixed research teams and to support and empower participants in research, in second languages and differing cultures. Overall, the paper attempts to advance some tentative ideas that other international researchers may be able to consider and deploy in relation to their own research ambitions.

Highlights

European social work research received further recognition and endorsement with the establishment of the European Social Work Research Association, in Bolzano 2014
The findings suggested considerable similarities as well as clear differences between the students’ experiences and the way social work education prepared the students in different contexts (Frost et al 2013a)
The second project considered the issue of resilience in child protection social work, from the perspective of how people stay, rather than why do people leave. 57 workers in England, Italy and Sweden were interviewed using qualitative methodology within a hermeneutic paradigm, and employing semi-structured indepth methods (Frost et al 2013b)

Summary

Introduction

European social work research received further recognition and endorsement with the establishment of the European Social Work Research Association, in Bolzano 2014. The paper will focus on issues of language and meaning in comparative research It offers a little background: the execution of two small European research projects which led to the authors’ focus on comparative issues. It considers previous research in the field, the body of work concerned with reflexive and team approaches in comparative contexts. The core of this article, though, is an examination of the reflexive construction of meaning, in relation to both an international research team, and the manner of its inflection in the process of qualitative interviewing across language and cultural boundaries. It argues that a culture of reflexive research practice is fundamental to approaching national differences, to best facilitate understanding in internationally mixed research teams, and to support and empower participants in research, in second languages and second cultures

Background

Conclusion