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Journal ArticleDOI

A method for studying social representations

Ioannis Tsoukalas
- 01 Dec 2006 - 
- Vol. 40, Iss: 6, pp 959-981
TLDR
In this article, the authors present a survey method for studying social representations, which creatively utilizes the elicitation and elaboration of free associations on a given topic in order to shed light on the semantic field and cognitive organization of a given social representation.
Abstract
The current article is concerned with the presentation of a novel method for studying social representations. Social representations are a key concept within social science but, as with many other social phenomena, notoriously difficult to grasp and study in a systematic way. The survey method presented though a formal one is not dependent on pre-specified and pre-graded answers as most questionnaires do. Instead it creatively utilizes the elicitation and elaboration of free associations on a given topic in order to shed light on the semantic field and cognitive organization of a given social representation. As a necessary complement to such a methodological exposition the article also presents some of the theoretical background that informs the method as well as the tradition of studying social representations in general. In the course of the article a research design for the method is presented accompanied by a complete script of the survey instrument. This is followed by a discussion of the merits of the method as well as some suggestions of analytical approaches that can be applied to the results. The article concludes with a short discussion of potential areas of application beyond the field of social representations.

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Citations
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Towards better participatory processes in technology foresight: How to link participatory foresight research to the methodological machinery of qualitative research and phenomenology?

TL;DR: In this paper, the use of qualitative and phenomenological approaches in the fields of FTA and foresight is discussed, and the authors advocate the professional use of such methods in foresight and FTA studies.
References
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TL;DR: In this paper, the authors introduce the concept of the research interview as a conversation and discuss the social construction of validity of the interview report and the ethical issues in conducting research interviews.
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