The Role of Emotion in Innovative Scientific Inquiry: A Phenomenological Study

• In Event: Moscone Center North Roundtable Session 7
  In Roundtable Session: Political and Emotion(al) Inquiry

Abstract

This paper explores the role of emotion in scientific inquiry, specifically those emotions experienced by participants in an interdisciplinary qualitative methods course. The purpose of this course was to begin the development of a new qualitative methodology to serve the public good in a post-truth era. Using Vagel’s post-intentional phenomenological methodology and Lazarus’ cognitive-mediational theory of emotion as a theoretical framework, we aim to describe the emotional experiences of participants. Strong emotions are evident, and are broken down into two themes (positive and negative emotions). Further analysis indicates that two additional phenomena, student resistance and contribution, occur in conjunction with strong emotions. The results will serve as encouragement for scholars and stakeholders to define and understand emotion in scientific inquiry.

Authors

• Megan Hullinger, University of Nevada - Las Vegas

• Stefani Robin Relles, University of Nevada - Las Vegas

• Nicole Stella, University of Nevada - Las Vegas