First International Congress for Qualitative Inquiry, UIUC Campus
May 5-7, 2005
by:
The theme of the First International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry focuses on "Qualitative Inquiry in a Time of Global Uncertainty." We call on the international community of interpretive scholars to gather together in common purpose to address the implications of the recent attempts by federal governments and their agencies to define what is 'good science', and what constitutes 'good scholarship'. Around the globe governments are attempting to regulate interpretive inquiry by enforcing bio-medical, evidence based models of research.
These regulatory activities raise basic philosophical epistemological, political and pedagogical issues for scholarship and freedom of speech in the academy. Their effects are interdisciplinary. They cut across the fields of educational and policy research, thehumanities, communications, health and social science, social welfare, business and law.
In the United States, the evidence-based experimental science movement, with accompanying federal legislation (Leave No Child Behind), threatens to deny advances in critical qualitative inquiry, including rigorous criticisms of positivist research. This legislation marginalizes indigenous, border, feminist, race, queer, and ethnic studies. The international community of qualitative researchers must come together to debate and discuss the implications of these new developments.
The mission of the First International Congress is to provide a forum for these critical conversations, to build and expand the already robust tradition of Qualitative Inquiry. This congress gathers together vibrant strands of qualitative research to produce innovative futures. We seek to generate lively, critical debate, foster contacts and the exchange ideas, and draw inspiration from each other. We encourage international participation from different countries, disciplines and cultural backgrounds, as well as from a wide range of research areas, including the humanities, medical and health care scholars.
We invite your submission of paper and session proposals. To learn more about the First International Congress and how to participate, please visit our website www.QI2005.org.
