"Deutungsmusteranalyse" (Interpretation Pattern Analysis) in Criminological Research

Abstract

We present how a theory of social patterns of interpretation (Deutungsmuster) that is based on the sociology of knowledge can be used as a foundation and starting-point for the empirical analysis of different inventories of crime-related knowledge. The central elements of patterns of interpretation and four concrete steps for their reconstruction are described. By using the example "Corruption in Germany" we demonstrate what the result of such an analysis of patterns of interpretation can look like. In conclusion we provide some thoughts on the applicability of the analysis of patterns of interpretation for various fields of criminological research and some advice for methodological problems of the approach that have not been resolved up to now. URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs0201149

Keywords

• patterns of interpretation
• qualitative research
• corruption
• criminology
• methodology
• sociology of knowledge