INTERNATIONAL

HUMAN SCIENCE RESEARCH

NEWSLETTER

 

Fall 2006

 

Published by the Department of Psychology,

Seattle University, 901 12th Avenue P.O. Box 222000, Seattle, WA 98122-1090, U.S.A.

 

Editor:

Steen Halling, PhD

Phone:

(206) 296-5392

 

Fax: (206) 296-2141

e-mail:

shalling@seattleu.edu

Copy Editor:

Karen Lutz

 

 

Production Editor:

Anne Maurer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

 

 

*State of the Newsletter

 

*Report on the 2006 Conference, John F. Kennedy University, Pleasant Hill, California,

USA. Includes report on discussion of restructuring IHSR, and great pictures of participants looking their best!

 

*Information/Call for Papers for the 2007 Conference, Trento University, Rovereto, Italy

 

* Themes and Locations of Past Conferences

 

* Information about Journals that Publish Phenomenological and Qualitative Research

 

* Conference and Book Notes

 

* Preliminary draft of Guidelines for Conference Organizers

 

* Links/Connections

 

 

*DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS TO FALL 2007 NEWSLETTER: October 15, 2007*

 

 

 

 

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Please email shalling@seattleu.edu if your email address changes

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State of the Newsletter

 

This newsletter has been produced in a bit of a rush so my apologies for any errors that we did not catch. Since the deadline for abstracts for the 2007 conference is January 31, 2007 I thought that this was one time when a certain amount of haste seemed justified.

 

The newsletter continues to be in reasonable financial shape, we have about $ 328 in our regular account, and $ 450 in our reserve account. In addition, we may be getting some money from John F. Kennedy University if it turns out that they have funds left over from the conference this last summer.

 

Please pass the newsletter on to interested colleagues via e-mail or any other meansit is free to anyone who wants to receive it.

 

Report on the 2006 International Human Science Research Conference

 

 

John F. Kennedy University, Pleasant Hill, CA USA

 

Greeting from the Conference Organizers

 

A warm thank you to all who participated in the 2006 International Human Science Research Conference. You all helped make it a successful event. There were 13 countries represented from Europe, Asia, Africa, South and North America and participants from 13 states in the US. The presentations also represented a multitude of perspectives that were inspiring and stimulating. In addition to the presentations, a special session was held to address the future of the conference that many of you attended and the hope is that the dialogue that started at the meeting will continue and will lead to some tangible actions as well. The meeting content, organized in point form according to the major themes that came up during the meeting, is described below. Included are names of people who expressed an interest in following up on some of the issues that emerged at the meeting. You are all encouraged to contact them and get involved. Many of you have also requested contact information for the participants and a list of the participant information is available. Finally, many of you noticed that there was a photographer snapping pictures throughout the conference. The pictures are available at:

 

http://www.pbase.com/bobber/ihsrc_2006.

 

Again, many thanks for making the 25th Anniversary a special celebration of the past and the beginning of our future! Hope to see you all in Trento!

 

Barbro Giorgi, Sandi Tatman & Anita Korenstein

 

John F. Kennedy University

 

Report on Business Meeting:

 

First, there was an expression of appreciation to the organizers of the conference for the hard work and perseverance that resulted in such a fine conference. Next, Massimialiano Tarozzi, Roberto Gris, and Luca Ghirotto gave a report on the forthcoming conference at the Rovereto Branch of the University of Trento, Italy. The slides they brought showed the beauty of the city. The invited lectures will be given in a newly completed modern art museum. Everything will be within walking distance in the center of the city. Finally, James Morley from Ramapo College, in New Jersey, USA, spoke of the 2008 conference which he had offered to host. The college has a strong emphasis on international study, has a beautiful campus with housing, and is only about half an hour from New York City. The one possible problem is that the state of New Jersey is cutting its budget and this might affect the feasibility of Ramapo College being the venue for 2008. Jim said he would be able to give us an update when we meet in Italy. Maureen Connolly, who hosted the conference in 2004 at Brock University in Ontario, Canada, offered to be a back up if Jim Morley had to withdraw his offer. The participants expressed their appreciation to Jim and to Maureen.

 

 

Report from Discussion (Aug 5, 2006) of Restructuring the IHSR Conference

 

Summary Notes:

 

Vision

  • We need a concise statement of self understanding and what we do
  • Human science is not the same as qualitative research
  • A diffusion of theory, method and practices
  • Human sciences is our focus, tighten vision around this one focus, not just about philosophy
  • Lets hang on to the phenomenological in Human Science
  • Would like to see more dialogue on theory and practice
  • Interdisciplinary
  • International

 

Growth

  • Whats our outside face? Outside of our newsletter, what is there?
  • Our impact is minimal. Do we want to be impactful?
  • Connect to a larger audience, be more visible
  • Remaining a small size is important, easier, getting to know each other
  • Visible is okay, growth may not be - distinction between visibility and growth
  • Growth and intimacy arent exclusive of each other
  • Host challenges: Financial risk will grow as number of participants grows; small institutions not able to host larger conference
  • Keeping costs down is key. Helps draw students, grow the next generation
  • What will IHSRC be after us?

 

Possible Action:

  • Take advantage of international journals. Its important to get people to read our papers
  • Think about merging with an existing journal. Methods Div 32?
  • Another meeting for those in Southern hemisphere
  • Instill collaborations to make an impact in the world. Maybe piggyback with times of other conferences, like Merleau-Ponty Circle, etc.
  • Editor of Humanistic Psychologist welcomes submissions of papers from this group!
  • IHSRC- publication; Publishing proceedings to increase visibility of group and our work to the public. Caution: needs to be published 4 times a year or would not be included in Abstracts.
  • Web site development. Maybe get an internet discussion going?

 

The Conference - Relationships - Way of being

  • Our appeal is in our relationships with each other
  • Our value is in our way of working. Im most at home at this conference than any other. Its value is not just in one thing, but in what we do at these conferences
  • Value for me is in bigger openness. I feel the passion and the welcoming. Thats why I come back.
  • Its the ineffable qualities that are key
  • Humble persistence of individuals who are passionate about what they do. Effect is to engage and foster my own creative growth

 

 

 

Organization how to keep up with the movement

  • Elect/appoint a General Secretary with a 2 yr appointment who is responsible for newsletter, web page, helping conference hosts.
  • Form Advisory council: a committee of wise people, those having been around many years, hosts of past conferences. Convene next year to discuss ideas that come.

Action:

  • Basic Guidelines for conferences and their hosts. Along with a list of publications that will advertise us for free. Recognize flexibility and autonomy of hosting groups - stable numbers - core/new/repeats cost. [Editor Note: done, included in newsletter]

 

  • Need a concrete Advisory Board to help hosts. Perhaps the prior hosts of the past 2-3 conferences and rotate.

 

      Research Project - New data collection on values - a vision assessment, using our own methods to get at our vision. Why do people come, what keeps them coming, what do we get out of it, etc. collect this data and analyze it. Give to group in Trento.

 

 

Possible Contacts People who expressed interest and willingness to help:

 

Host Guide Lines:

Maureen Connolly

Steen Halling

Bep Mook

 

Website Online discussion forum - technology

Brent Robins [Editor Note: Brent Robbins reports that this will be up and running this winter]

 

Research Project Data collection on Values - Why we come, what we value, where we want to go

George Sayre

 

Write up of IHSRC history

Amedeo Giorgi

 

 

 

2007 Conference, June 13- 16, University of Trento,

Rovereto Branch, Rovereto, Italy

 

New Frontiers of Phenomenology.

Beyond Postmodernism in Empirical Research

 

From Wednesday June 13, 9 a.m. to Saturday, June 16, 1 p.m.

(Please plan to arrive Tuesday afternoon)

 

 

In the last two decades of the twentieth century, the post-modern climate and mood undoubtedly represented a fundamental and necessary break with the optimism associated with positivism; it also marked the crisis of faith for those who believed in the reality of an omniscient and omnipotent calculating reason.

 

The rich semantic ambiguity of the notion of post-modernism invites us to explore it in its complexity and, at the same time, requires us to question its implications. One of the dramatic consequences of the post-modern turn in human sciences is that it has brought about a mistrust about the possibility of any scientific knowledge, giving rise sometimes to skepticism, pessimism, as well as scientific nihilism.

How could one overcome this impasse between the post-modern subjectivism and the re-emerging perspectives coming from a hard objectivistic paradigm, based on natural sciences? Perhaps by turning to phenomenology which seems to represent a stimulating third way, well worth exploring and discussing.

The 2007 conference will focus on discussing, theoretically, methodologically and empirically, what is happening around and after the post-modern discourse and the implications of this debate for human science research.

 

The challenge of IHSRC 2007 will be to explore collectively the possible horizons for research in human science today and whether phenomenology can be considered an up-to-date approach to deal with these challenges.

 

 

Keynote Speakers

 

Roberta De Monticelli (San Raffaele University of Milan)

 

Amedeo Giorgi (Saybrook Graduate Institute, San Francisco)

 

Tribute to Piero Bertolini

Piero Bertolini (University of Bologna) was the founder of phenomenological pedagogy in Italy. He should have been the third keynote speaker but he unexpectedly die September 16. A brief tribute will be given in his memory

 

Call for Papers

Format of presentations

Two formats of abstract will be accepted:

-         Papers: a paper is submitted by one person, but also with co-authors. Individual presentations are ordinarily given 40 minutes, with the understanding that 10 minutes be given for questions and discussions

-         Symposium: a symposium consists of at least three linked papers within a common outline. A symposium normally lasts 100 minutes, including question time

 

Each abstract should not exceed 1500 characters for papers and 2500 for symposium (including common overview and single papers), and it should include:

-         Title of presentation

-         Name of the author(s), specify if it is a joint presentation

-         Affiliation/institution of each author(s)

 

How to submit

The proposer should submit his/her abstract using the form available on the web site www.unitn.it/ihsrc07

Please do not use ordinary mail or fax to submit your proposal.

Each abstract should include:

-         Title (Mr., Mrs., Ms., Dr., Prof.)

-         Author(s) details

         First name, surname/family name

         University Department or Institution

         Full mail address (postcode, country, telephone, fax)

         email

 

-         abstract details (title and format of presentation)

-         three key words, chose:

         one indicating theoretical framework or underpinnings

         two related to the content

 

Audio/visual requirements

Overhead projector

Computer projector

Other (specify)

(If possible, please bring your own laptop)

 

Deadlines

January 31, 2007 Abstract submission

February 28, 2007 Communication of proposal acceptance

 

 

For further and more detailed information go to:

www.unitn.it/ihsrc07

 

 

Local Organizing committee

Prof Massimiliano Tarozzi (chairman)

 

Members:

Prof Marco Dallari

Prof Luigina Mortari

Matteo Artoni

Elisa Eccher

Luca Ghirotto

Roberto Gris

Antonio Mattei

Francesca Rapan

Valentina Mazzoni

 

Fax +39 0464483514

e-mail: ihsrc@unitn.it

 

Organizing Secretariat
Events and Meetings Office
University of Trento
via Verdi, 6 I-38100 (Tn) - Italy
ph. +39 0461 883215-16-25
fax +39 0461 883222
e-mail: convegni@unitn.it

 

 

2008 and 2009Conference

 

 

The tentative site for the 2008 conference is Ramapo College, New jersey, United States. If this is not possible for budget reasons, the conference is scheduled to be held at Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada.

 

2009? We will find out, at the business meeting in Rovereto, who would like to host the conference for that year.

According to tradition, it would be held in Europe, or at least outside of North America.

Conference Sites and Themes, 1982-2007

 

 

1982: School of Education, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA. Phenomenology of the Child.

 

1983: Department of Psychology, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. No theme.

 

1984: Department of Psychology, State University of West Georgia, Carrollton, USA.

 

1985: May 21-25. Faculty of Education, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.

 

1986: May 27-31. University of California, Berkeley; Co-sponsored by the California State University, Hayward, and the Saybrook Institute, USA: Dialogue Within Diversity.

 

1987: May 26-30. School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Canada. Towards Integration in Human Science.

 

1988: June 8-12th. Department of Psychology and the College of Arts and Sciences, Seattle University, Washington, USA. The Ethical Foundations and Implications of Human Science Research.

 

1989: Aug 18-22. Institute of Psychology, University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark. No theme

 

1990: June 9-13. Faculty of the Educational Sciences, University of Laval, Quebec, Canada. Intersubjectivity.

 

1991: Aug 18-22. Departments of Psychology, Educational and Educational Research, and History of Science and Ideas, University of Goteborg, Sweden. Human Science as Methodology.

 

1992: June 9-13. The Institute for Action Research, the Departments of Human Development and Child Studies, and of Philosophy, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan, USA. The Hermeneutic Circle: Voice, Narrative and Meaning Making in the Life-Worlds of Children and Adults.

 

1993: Aug 10-14. Department of Pedagogical and Educational Sciences, University of Groningen, the Netherlands. Human Sciences at the Intersection of Politics, Social Change and Development and Political Decision Making.

 

1994: Jun 14- 18. Department of Psychology, St. Josephs College, West Hartford, Connecticut, USA. No theme.

 

1995: Aug 21-25. Department of Psychology, University of Pretoria, Eskrom Conference Centre, Midrand, South Africa. No theme.

 

1996: Aug 14-17. Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada: Beyond Form. Transformation through Imagery and Action.

 

1997: Aug 16-20. Department of Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway. The Challenges for the Human Sciences in a Technological World.

 

1998: June 10-14. Sheldon Jackson College, Sitka, Alaska. Interfaces: Heritages and Cultures

 

1999: July 26-29. Learning and Teaching Research Institute (and others), Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, United Kingdom. Qualitative Research: Unity and Diversity.

 

 

2000: June 12-15. Southampton College, Long Island University, New York, USA. Celebrating Openness.

 

2001: Aug 19-22. Counseling Institute, Taisho University, Tokyo, Japan. Caring for the Next Generation.

 

2002. June 19-22. University of Victoria, Victoria BC, Canada. Inciting Dialogue at the Edges.

 

2003: Aug 13-16. Ersta Skondal University College, Stockholm, Sweden. Human Science Research and Human Vulnerability.

 

2004: Aug 5-8. Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario Canada. Embodiment and its Consequences in Human Science Research.

 

2005: Aug 10-13. Bournemouth University, United Kingdom. Values

 

2006: Aug 3-6. John F. Kennedy University, Pleasant Hills, California. The Multicultural Future of Qualitative Research

 

2007: June 13-16. University of Trento, Rovereto Branch, Italy. New Frontiers of Phenomenology: Beyond Postmodernism in Empirical Research.

 

 

Human Science Friendly Journals

 

 

This is a partial list of journals that have published qualitative and phenomenological research. They range from the Journal of Phenomenological Psychology which specializes in such research to the International Journal of Aging and Human Development which is content focused but includes studies with a variety of methods. At the end of the list is a website that also lists such journals. However, it includes ones, such as the American Psychologist, that have never, as far as I know, published qualitative research.

 

American Behavioral Scientist

 

British Journal of Health Psychology

 

British Journal of Medical Psychology

 

British Journal of Psychology

 

British Journal of Social Psychology

 

British Journal of Social Work