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Mindful Inquiry in Social Research
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Mindful Inquiry in Social Research

Updated Edition


April 2025 | SAGE Publications, Inc
The first edition of this classic text introduced researchers and students to a broad range of approaches that are grounded philosophically and are relevant to real contexts. This new edition reflects developments in social research and changes in the global environment. The authors broaden their conception of mindfulness, and show how mindful inquirers can maximize positive outcomes for participants, organizations, communities, and themselves. The first five chapters describe the application of mindful inquiry, and the following nine introduce cultures of inquiry and research traditions, theories, methods, and techniques. Chapters contain activities that provide immediate engagement with learning, suggested readings, and lists of skills for researchers.

 
Preface
 
About the Authors
 
Introduction
 
Chapter 1: The 21st Century Context and a New Approach
Putting the Person at the Center

 
Mindful Inquiry: Our Philosophy

 
Who is the Researcher?

 
Multiplicity of Approaches, Cultures of Inquiry

 
Becoming a Researcher as Socialization into a Community

 
Building Caring Communities Through Mindful Inquiry

 
Mode of Serious Play

 
Conclusion

 
 
Chapter 2: The Mindful Inquirer as Philosopher: From Positivism/Scientism to Postmodernism and Beyond
The Researcher as Applied Philosopher

 
The Mysterious Death and Afterlife of Positivism

 
The Postmodern Situation and the Crisis in the Foundations of Knowledge

 
Living at a Historical Turning Point: Forms of Posthumanism or the Global Context of Research

 
Post-Truth and Fake News

 
Mindful Inquiry and the Way Forward: Alternative Epistemologies to Scientism/Positivism

 
Conclusion

 
 
Chapter 3: Mindful Inquiry as the Basis for Scholarly Practice
Four Knowledge Traditions

 
Mindful Inquiry as Contemplative Embodied Critical Hermeneutic Phenomenology

 
Summary

 
The Spiral of Mindful Inquiry

 
Beyond Research Ethics to Mindful Inquiry

 
The Affinity of Mindful Inquiry to Non-Western Thought

 
Summary

 
 
Chapter 4: Fundamentals of Mindful Inquiry
Fundamentals for Authenticity

 
Experiment and Typification in Everyday Life and Social Inquiry

 
Assessments, Tests, and Measurements: Developing Types

 
Journalism Versus Social Science: Linking Theory and Research

 
Conclusion

 
 
Chapter 5: The Mindful Scholar–Practitioner
The Role of the Scholar–Practitioner

 
Misappropriation and Mindful Inquiry

 
Functions and Qualities of the Scholar–Practitioner

 
Examples of Scholar–Practitioner Inquiry

 
Research as Collaboration with a Community of Research & Practice (CORP)

 
Becoming a Scholar–Practitioner

 
Assessing Your Growing Competency as a Researcher

 
What Makes Something Count as Knowledge?

 
Gaining Mastery of Research Competencies to Maximize Creativity as a Researcher

 
 
Chapter 6: Cultures of Inquiry and Research Traditions
Disciplines, Cultures of Inquiry, Theories, Methods, and Techniques

 
Situating Yourself Within Research Traditions

 
Looking at Cultures of Inquiry

 
 
Chapter 7: Contemplative Embodied Awareness
Somatics or Embodied Awareness

 
Somatic (Embodied) Inquiry

 
Somatics and Research Process

 
Somatics and Social Justice

 
Limitations and Challenges

 
Contemplative Inquiry

 
 
Chapter 8: Phenomenological Inquiry
Typical Problems and Concerns

 
The Raw Data of Phenomenological Research

 
Phenomenological Methods of Gaining Understanding

 
The Nature of Explanation and the Nature of Knowledge

 
The Necessity and Centrality of the Phenomenological Reduction

 
Relationship Between Researcher and Subject Matter

 
Critique of Phenomenology

 
 
Chapter 9: Hermeneutic Inquiry, Ethnography, and Narrative Research
Hermeneutics

 
Strategies for Analyzing Texts

 
Typical Problems and Concerns

 
The Raw Data of Hermeneutic Research

 
Hermeneutic Methods of Gaining Understanding

 
The Nature of Explanation and the Nature of Knowledge

 
Relationship Between Researcher and Subject Matter

 
Deep Hermeneutics of Heidegger and Gadamer

 
Ethnography

 
Typical Problems and Concerns

 
The Nature of Explanation and the Nature of Knowledge

 
Relationship Between Researcher and Subject Matter

 
A Note on Autoethnography

 
Conclusion

 
 
Chapter 10: Quantitative, Behavioral, Evaluation, Mixed, and Multi-Phased Research
Orientation to Quantitative and Behavioral Science Research

 
Typical Problems and Concerns

 
The Nature of Explanation and the Nature of Knowledge

 
Relationship Between Researcher and Subject Matter

 
Orientation to Evaluation Research

 
Typical Problems and Concerns

 
The Nature of Explanation and the Nature of Knowledge

 
Relationship Between Researcher and Subject Matter

 
Orientation to Mixed Methods Research

 
Typical Problems and Concerns

 
The Nature of Explanation

 
Relationship Between Researcher and Subject Matter

 
Multiphased Research Focused on Areas of Public Concern

 
Conclusion

 
 
Chapter 11: Comparative-Historical Inquiry, Theoretical Inquiry, and Grounded Theory
Orientation to Comparative-Historical Inquiry

 
Typical Problems and Concerns

 
Relationship Between Researcher and Subject Matter

 
Orientation to Theoretical Inquiry

 
Typical Problems and Concerns

 
Relationship Between Researcher and Subject Matter

 
 
Chapter 12: Critical Theory and Critical Social Theory
Orientation to Critical Social Science

 
Some Historical Notes on Critical Social Science

 
Origins and Implications of the Frankfurt School of Critical Theory

 
Thinkers That Followed the Pathway

 
Implications for Problems of Today

 
Typical Problems and Concerns

 
The Nature of Explanation and the Nature of Knowledge

 
Relationship Between Researcher and Subject Matter

 
A Note on Intersectionality and Mindful Inquiry

 
 
Chapter 13: Action Research and Indigenous Research
Origins, Typical Problems and Concerns

 
The Nature of Explanation and the Nature of Knowledge

 
The Action Research Family

 
Indigenous Research

 
Conclusion

 
 
Chapter 14: Conclusion and Magic Formulae
Magic Formulae

 
Intend to Learn

 
Surrender and Catch

 
Conjecture and Refute

 
To the Things Themselves

 
Let Everything Human Be Spoken to You

 
Regard All Things as They Present Themselves From the Standpoint of Redemption

 
Cultivate a Boundless Heart Toward All Beings

 
Cultivate Contemplative Embodied Awareness

 
Summary

 
 
Appendix A: Glossary
 
Appendix B: Research Competencies
 
Appendix C: Key Ideas of Positivism/Scientism
 
Appendix D: Introductory Reading List
 
References
 
Index

The book provides essential foundations for conducting research in a world fraught with complex, pervasive, and pressing social issues. It continues, expands, and updates the approach of the innovative first edition, offering new and experienced researchers important insights about inquiry as a profound process of personal and social development.

Tina Lynn Evans
Colorado Mountain College
Key features
  • Outlines the four cornerstones of mindful inquiry—phenomenology, critical theory, hermeneutics, and contemplative embodied awareness—which offer pathways for a deepened understanding of the research topic and provide tools for the researcher to lead positive change.
  • Substantially updates all previous chapters and includes two new chapters: one on Contemplative Embodied Awareness and another on Action Research and Indigenous Research.

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