再現危機及其之後──探詢當代質性研究的認識論基礎

The Crisis of Representation and Beyond: Exploring the Epistemological Foundations of Contemporary Qualitative Research

質性研究(qualitative research)在北美發展的歷史進程中，經過了多個變化階段。其中重要的轉捩點，出現在「再現的危機」階段，進而引發三大危機同時迸發；此後，才過渡到後現代式的多元文本。巨型理論被更為本土、適合特定問題與情境的小型理論所取代；研究者也積極對「知識」進行全面性的檢討與反省。在此一歷史脈絡中，從再現危機所引發三大危機的連鎖反應，進而出現多元文類的轉折裡，筆者並未明確找到認識論的基礎。故本文目的：在嘗試從認識論的視角，說明再現危機發生的原因，以及危機之後，質性研究得以邁入後現代民族誌寫作實驗期，並接受多元文本作為質性研究文類的轉折。研究方法則採取Ricoeur詮釋學方法：距離化與據納雙重進路。最後，本文結論認為：當所有研究成果終須透過「再現」公諸於世時，將會面臨三大危機同時出現的困境，各類研究文本的合法性與實踐性亦將受到質疑；於是，必須透過符號系統再現的各類研究文本，將不再有優劣之分，原本以實證論為研究典範的立場被揚棄，質性研究不再擔心受到實證論的挑戰，並以「喚起」置換「再現」，更有自信地發展各種研究文類，並將研究帶入後續眾聲喧嘩的階段。

In the historical development of qualitative research in North America, there have been several stages of transformation. An important turning point occurred during the "crisis of representation," which led to the emergence of triple crisis simultaneously, eventually transitioning into apostmodern-style of diverse texts. Grand theories were replaced by smaller, context-specific theories, and researchers actively reexamined and reflected on "knowledge." In this historical context, from the chain reaction of the crisis of representation leading to the triple crises and the subsequent emergence of diverse genres, the author did not explicitly find the epistemological foundation. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to attempt to explain, from the perspective of epistemology, the reasons for the crisis of representation and how qualitative research entered the postmodern period of experimental ethnographic writing phase and embraced diverse texts as aturning point in qualitative research genres. The research method adopts Ricoeur's hermeneutics approach: distanciation and appropriation of interpretation. Finally, the conclusion of this paper suggests that when all research results must be presented through "representation," they will face the dilemma of the triple crisis occurring simultaneously, questioning the legitimacy and practicality of various research texts. Consequently, all types of research texts represented through symbol systems will no longer be judged superior or inferior. The previously dominant position of positivism as aresearch paradigm is abandoned, and qualitative research is no longer concerned about being challenged by positivism. Instead, it replaces "representation" with "evocation" and develops various research genres with confidence, moving the research into asubsequent phase of cacophonous voices.