The Affinity between Qualitative Methods and Community Psychology

Abstract

Basically community psychology is not associated with a certain methodology but there are good reasons why qualitative methods are chosen in many investigations in community psychology. Characteristic features of the community psychology approach are nearness to everyday life, multiperspectivity, partiality, and process orientation. These characteristics become relevant if complex psycho-social processes like empowerment, social networks etc. are investigated. In this contribution I will discuss in which way qualitative methods today can contribute to a better understanding of these processes in community psychology research. URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs0002283

Keywords

• community psychology
• qualitative methods
• everyday life
• complex systems
• psycho-social processes
• empowerment
• participation
• multiperspectivity
• partiality
• process orientation