The Symbolic Boundaries Elicitation Approach: An Inductive Qualitative Method for Assessing Heterogeneity, Polarization, and Contestation

• In Event: 20458 - Qualitative Methodology

Abstract

Cultural meanings are often contested and polarized. We present a novel methodological technique, the Symbolic Boundaries Elicitation Approach (SBEA) that can be used to capture these heterogeneous cultural meanings in a systematic, inductive, and cognitively accessible way. This method is rooted in insights from the symbolic boundaries literature and prompts-based interviewing techniques. SBEA involves eliciting “positive” and “negative” examples from interviewees in order to identify where they draw the boundary around a target concept. The analyst can then use SBEA data to identify both within- and between-interviewee differences in where these boundaries lie. Two case studies demonstrate the utility of SBEA, showcasing how the technique can surface substantial heterogeneity in the way people understand social phenomena, such as what “counts” as racism or good health. We argue that SBEA can address outstanding questions in cultural and political sociology, while also providing methodological insights related to issues of measurement bias.

Authors

• Lauren Valentino, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

• Evangeline Warren, Ohio State University