New Books Network Colette Einfeld and Helen Sullivan, "How to Conduct Interpretive Research: Insights for Students and Researchers" (Edward Elgar, 2025)
Jan 27, 2026
Helen Sullivan, a public policy scholar and dean, reflects on pedagogy, emotion, and rigor in interpretive methods. Colette Einfeld, a postdoc and former PhD student, shares reflective perspectives on methodology and supervision. They discuss why they co-edited the book, diverse meanings of interpretivism, messiness and reflexivity in research, inclusive training, and how AI and emotions shape interpretive practice.
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From Positivist Roots To Interpretive Commitment
- Colette described arriving at interpretivism from a positivist psychology background and feeling isolated during her PhD.
- She vowed with Helen in supervision to write a book so others wouldn't feel that same uncertainty alone.
Context Shapes Interpretive Knowledge
- Helen explains the editors prioritized geographic and contextual diversity to broaden interpretivism beyond traditional centres.
- They sought contributors working in varied places like Thailand and Indonesia to link context to interpretive practice.
Allow Authors To Define Interpretivism
- Let contributors define what 'interpretive' means for their work rather than enforcing a single canonical definition.
- Respect diverse entry points while keeping interpretivism robust and open to critique.
