Studying Paradox as Process and Practice

Abstract

This chapter develops a strong process and practice methodological approach to studying salience and latency in paradox. It assumes, first, that both paradoxes and responses to them are socially constructed within people’s moment-by-moment activities and practices. Second, that the experience of paradox as salient or latent is not inevitable but is constructed within these activities and practices. It develops three process- and practice-based indicators, language, emotion, and action, through which the construction of paradox as salient may be identified and studied empirically. It then looks at latent paradox, showing how the study of mundane everyday practices, and the juxtaposition of salience with non-salience across time and within different spaces, provide indicators of latent paradox. It extends existing paradox research by reasserting the need for embedded, qualitative, processual research designs that enable us to go beyond the study of paradox through response, cognition, and discourse.