Qualitative Research and Anomalous Experience: A Call for Interpretative Pluralism

Abstract

This commentary reviews the status that the articles in this special issue accord to the data which they analyse. Consideration is given to the benefits of adopting a pluralist interpretative approach within qualitative research on anomalous experiences, that is, applying different methodological approaches and epistemological, ontological, and theoretical positions to the same data. This analytic stance is illustrated with reference to data from the articles, and the challenges associated with it are noted.

Keywords:

• anomalous experience
• bricolage
• parapsychology
• pluralism
• sense of presence