Join us for the keynote presentation of Love Data Week, with Temple University Department of Criminal Justice Associate Professor and qualitative researcher Jamie Fader.
Event Description:
Most researchers learn from our earliest training about the importance of objectivity in our work. As scholars attempting to analyze the social justice movements of our time, however, we may also ask whether love may inform our research in meaningful ways. In this talk, I discuss the role of love (e.g., empathy, humanity, and connectedness) in qualitative social research and make the case that both validity and equity can be served by drawing on love as a research tool. From developing rapport with research participants through empathy and care, to drawing on personal experiences to analyze narratives, or employing epistemological or theoretical perspectives that privilege liberatory aims, I argue that love should be a component of our research toolkits. Moreover, as academic spaces become increasingly diverse, we may need to consider that our insistence on objectivity might have unintended exclusionary outcomes. To make the case for love, I draw on my own research on justice system-impacted Philadelphians.
Learn more about Temple Libraries’ support for qualitative researchers on our website.
In-person event registration is encouraged but not required. This event will also be streamed via Zoom. Please register to receive a link to attend remotely.