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From Critical Thought to Emancipatory Action: Contradictory Research Goals?

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  • B. Humphries

Abstract

This article results from reading Lather's Getting Smart (1991) and Hammersley's The Politics of Social Research (1995). The theme is the debates between ‘traditional’ research approaches and ‘emancipatory’ research approaches. It is argued that these debates are based on stereotypical views which obscure important characteristics held in common, and both require to be interrogated. The article examines two of these characteristics, appeals to a metanarrative of emancipation and the will to power, and considers the implications of the privileging of scientific knowledge over other forms of knowledge. It concludes by considering the possibilities for a praxis-oriented research which may lead to possibilities for emancipatory action.

Suggested Citation

  • B. Humphries, 1997. "From Critical Thought to Emancipatory Action: Contradictory Research Goals?," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 2(1), pages 20-27, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:socres:v:2:y:1997:i:1:p:20-27
    DOI: 10.5153/sro.47
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Dod Forrest, 2000. "Theorising Empowerment Thought: Illuminating the Relationship between Ideology and Politics in the Contemporary Era," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 4(4), pages 43-57, February.
    2. M. Hammersley, 1997. "A Reply to Humphries," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 2(4), pages 51-54, December.
    3. Kathleen Lynch, 1999. "Equality Studies, the Academy and the Role of Research in Emancipatory Social Change," The Economic and Social Review, Economic and Social Studies, vol. 30(1), pages 41-69.
    4. Gallhofer, Sonja & Haslam, Jim & van der Walt, Sibylle, 2011. "Accountability and transparency in relation to human rights: A critical perspective reflecting upon accounting, corporate responsibility and ways forward in the context of globalisation," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 22(8), pages 765-780.
    5. Harrison, W. Cealey & J. Hood-Williams, 1998. "More Varieties than Heinz: Social Categories and Sociality in Humphries, Hammersley and Beyond," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 3(1), pages 33-41, March.
    6. M. Hammersley & R. Gomm, 1997. "A Response to Romm," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 2(4), pages 86-88, December.
    7. B. Humphries, 1998. "The Baby and the Bath Water: Hammersley, Cealey Harrison and Hood-Williams and the Emancipatory Research Debate," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 3(1), pages 29-32, March.
    8. N. Romm, 1998. "Caricaturing and Categorising in Processes of Argument," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 3(2), pages 79-82, June.
    9. B. Temple, 1997. "‘Collegial Accountability’ and Bias: The Solution or the Problem?," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 2(4), pages 8-14, December.
    10. D. Millen, 1997. "Some Methodological and Epistemological Issues Raised by Doing Feminist Research on Non-Feminist Women," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 2(3), pages 114-128, September.
    11. N. Romm, 1997. "Becoming More Accountable: A Comment on Hammersley and Gomm," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 2(3), pages 129-136, September.

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