On the importance of the dynamics of humour and comedy for constructionism and reflexivity in social science research methodology

ABSTRACT

Humour and comedy have gained increased significance in academic research in recent years. This article examines the importance of humour and comedy as valuable tools in qualitative social science research methodology. It makes the original contribution of utilizing humour and comedy theory, and critical understandings of both their macro and micro mechanisms and functions, to argue that humour and comedy can accommodate, and indeed, expedite, social science research methodology in relation to two key principles: constructionism and reflexivity. This represents a significant and rigorous theoretical contribution to not just humour and comedy theory but the paradigm of qualitative social science methodology. Following a review of the benefits of using humour and comedy in qualitative research, the article considers how the broader theories and more intricate mechanics of humour and comedy can facilitate research into the social world, examining how humour and comedy can inform and develop constructionism and reflexivity.

KEYWORDS:

• Humour
• comedy
• social science methodology
• constructionism
• reflexivity

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sharon Lockyer

Sharon Lockyer is a Reader in Sociology and Communications and the founding director of the Centre for Comedy Studies Research (CCSR) at Brunel University London, UK. Sharon’s research interests fall within the broad areas of the sociology of mediated culture, critical comedy studies and media controversies. She has written extensively on the ethics and aesthetics of live and mediated comedy in relation to class, gender and disability. She also has a strong interest in methodological issues and debates in humour and comedy studies. She is the founding co-editor of the Palgrave Studies in Comedy book series and has served as executive board member-at-large for the International Society for Humor Studies (ISHS). She is also on the Editorial Boards of Humor: International Journal of Humor Research; International Studies in Humour; and Comedy Studies and Advisory Board Member for the European Journal of Humour Research. Twitter: @Comedy_Studies

Simon Weaver

Simon Weaver is a Senior Lecturer in Media and Communications in the Department of Social and Political Sciences, and a member of the Centre for Comedy Studies Research (CCSR), at Brunel University London, UK. His research focuses on the rhetorical nature of humour and joking. This has included the rhetorical nature of racial and racist humour, and other forms of offensive humour. His 2011 book The Rhetoric of Racist Humour: US, UK and Global Race Joking (Routledge) significantly contributed to debates on racist humour and joking. Simon is currently researching the relationship between comedy and populism. He has discussed his research in a variety of international media, including on BBC radio and television. Twitter: @SimonJohnWeaver