MOVING TOWARD THIRD-SPACE: REFLECTIONS ON THE TENSIONS WITH/IN QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

This reflective essay examines some of the dialectical tensions that can emerge within qualitative research and that can result in internal and external conflicts and a wide range of emotions and feelings for researchers. It is important to notice and examine these tensions as many art educators use qualitative research methods. Subsequently, more attention is needed to recognizing research as an emotional, and conflicted journey. The Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi and paradox theory offers applicable insights into the qualitative research process. Approaches to ‘qualitative thinking’ and artistic and contemplative methods are explored with the aim of reflexivity and disrupting dialectical thinking in qualitative research.