The researcher as instrument - how our capacity for empathy supports qualitative analysis of transcripts.

In this article we draw on literature from philosophy, history, and psychology to argue that empathy supports qualitative analysis of transcripts in several ways. We discuss examples of these processes both with data that we have co-created with our participants and data where we have not interacted...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:Qualitative Research in Psychology Vol. 22; no. 2; pp. 378 - 399
Main Authors: Stige, Signe Hjelen, Oddli, Hanne Weie, Hjeltnes, Aslak, Watson, Jeanne, Stige, Brynjulf
Format: Article
Published: Taylor & Francis Ltd Apr-Jun2025
Subjects:
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
fields @attributes:
  recordID: 1
pdfLink:
plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ssf&AN=183273709&site=ehost-live
header:
  @attributes:
    shortDbName: ssf
    uiTerm: 183273709
    longDbName: Social Sciences Full Text (H.W. Wilson)
    uiTag: AN
  controlInfo:
    bkinfo:
    jinfo:
      jid:
        14780887
        ABW
      jtl: Qualitative Research in Psychology
      issn: 14780887
      maglogo: N
    pubinfo:
      dt: Apr-Jun2025
      vid: 22
      iid: 2
      pid: 377
      pub: Taylor & Francis Ltd
    artinfo:
      ui:
        183273709
        10.1080/14780887.2024.2368046
      ppf: 378
      ppct: 21
      formats:
      tig:
        atl: The researcher as instrument - how our capacity for empathy supports qualitative analysis of transcripts.
      aug:
        au:
          Stige, Signe Hjelen
          Oddli, Hanne Weie
          Hjeltnes, Aslak
          Watson, Jeanne
          Stige, Brynjulf
        affil:
          University of Bergen, Department of Clinical Psychology, Bergen, Norway
          University of Oslo, Department of Psychology, Oslo, Norway
          University of Toronto, Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development, Toronto, Canada
          University of Bergen, The Grieg Academy, Bergen, Norway
      su:
        Empathy
        Philosophical literature
        Research personnel
        Acquisition of data
        Data analysis
      sug:
        subj:
          Empathy
          Philosophical literature
          Research personnel
          Acquisition of data
          Data analysis
      keyword:
        empathy
        qualitative analysis
        researcher-as-instrument
        transcripts
        empathy
        qualitative analysis
        researcher-as-instrument
        transcripts
      ab: In this article we draw on literature from philosophy, history, and psychology to argue that empathy supports qualitative analysis of transcripts in several ways. We discuss examples of these processes both with data that we have co-created with our participants and data where we have not interacted with participants during data collection. What we suggest is not a new approach to analysis. Rather, we argue that the deliberate use of empathy bears potential to strengthen analysis across various analytical approaches. We explore five examples of how to access and harness our capacity for empathy as a resource in qualitative analysis: 1) Make time and room for prolonged engagement with data; 2) Use details and context actively when developing your understanding; 3) Practice decentering by actively seeking the perspective of the participants; 4) Attend to your own visceral experiences and body sensations; and 5) Utilize your capacity for imagination and creativity.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype: Article
      src: R
    language: English
    refInfo:
    copyright:
      @attributes:
        flag: N
    holdings:
      @attributes:
        islocal: N