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Humour Analysis and Qualitative Research

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Humour Analysis and Qualitative Research Issue 63: Summer 2012 social researchUpdate Humour Analysis and Qualitative Research • Qualitative research is characterized by a heavy dependence Anindya Sen on data that are word-based (interviews, observer notes, Northern Illinois University, USA documents, manuscripts, etc.). Anindya Sen has an Ed. D. degree • Humour primarily consists of jokes (spoken or written words) in Instructional Technology and actions (describable through words) which elicit laughter from Northern Illinois University. His research interests are or generate merriment. in instructional design and • Humour analysis has inherent attributes that make it similar to technology, adult learning theories, typical qualitative research methods. qualitative and mixed methods research, and issues pertaining to • Qualitative researchers can apply humour analysis more the education of ethnic minorities. frequently as an analytical tool to investigate various cultural E-Mail: [email protected] and social phenomena. Humour is a universal phenomenon Definitions of Humour and that is exhibited by most cultures. Theories of Humour What constitutes humour, under There are dozens of different what conditions it is considered definitions of humour. The following acceptable, what are the responses are two representative ones. to an instance of attempted humour, Crawford (1994: 57) defines humour and other related questions can shed as any communication that generates light on cultural and social beliefs a ‘positive cognitive or affective and practices. response from listeners.’ Romero and Cruthirds (2006: 59) define Humour primarily consists of jokes humour as ‘amusing communications (spoken or written words) and that produce positive emotions and actions which elicit laughter or cognitions in the individual, group, generate mirth (these actions can be or organization.’Just as with the described in words) (Critchley, 2002; definition of humour, there is no Ritchie, 2004). Given that qualitative single universally accepted, all- research is characterized by a heavy encompassing theory of humour. The dependence on data that are word- following four theories are among based (interviews, observer notes, the most commonly discussed in the documents, manuscripts, etc.), this humour literature. Update posits that humour analysis has potential as an investigative 1. The Relief Theory qualitative research tool. Cooper (2008) says that the relief http://sru.soc.surrey.ac.uk/ 1 social research UPDATE theory has its origins in the ideas of 4. The Comprehension- the data. In most conventional types Sigmund Freud who believed that the Elaboration Theory of qualitative research, the data are pleasure obtained from a humorous Cooper (2008) describes the collected in the form of interviews, event or utterance originated in the comprehension-elaboration theory as which are then transcribed and unconscious realms of our mind. a novel theory that tries to determine coded to identify themes. Qualitative The process of humour is a defence under what conditions individuals research frequently also involves field mechanism on the part of the ego will find an event humorous. notes of on-site observations. The and the superego to circumvent According to this theory, the degree investigator subsequently analyses reality and protect themselves from to which someone will enjoy a the field notes in conjunction with the emotional consequences of humour attempt is determined data from other sources (e.g., adverse real-life situations. Freud also by how difficult the humour is to interviews) and then develops the believed that humour (primarily in the understand and also by the amount research narrative (Creswell 2006; form of jokes) was a means by which of cognitive analysis the humour Bogdan & Biklen 2007). people could release their suppressed recipient conducts after he or she The analysis of humour can be similar aggressive and sexual instinctive has comprehended the humour to the analysis of data that are in the urges in a socially acceptable manner attempt. The post-comprehension form of interview transcripts or field (Freud 1960; Cooper 2008). Meyer cognitive analysis includes such notes. Jokes or other incidences of (2000), along somewhat similar considerations as whether or not the humour that are present in human lines, proposes that humour is a vent humour is socially acceptable under interactions can be “trapped” by through which people get relief from the circumstances or if the humour recording them in context. The the tensions that originate in their is offensive to a particular person or humorous incidents may be analysed desires or fears. group. either separately or within a thick description of the context. Interviews 2. The Superiority Theory Humour Analysis and its and field notes from qualitative The superiority theory says that Similarities to Qualitative methods may produce information humour is a manifestation of a Research about various social phenomena; feeling of superiority over others or Qualitative research has many likewise, the analysis of humour can even over one’s own former situation identifying features including, but provide information about various (Berger 1987; Cooper 2008). In other not limited to, the following: Use of situations and cultures. words, a humorous utterance can qualitative data (word, pictures, and Humour analysis is also akin to be a sign of the person “lording” photographs); inductive analysis; conventional qualitative research in it over another person whom he or holistic perspective; naturalistic other respects. As mentioned before, she considers inferior (in the case of investigation; context sensitivity; qualitative research is characterized self-deprecating humour, it can be empathic neutrality; and design by a “naturalistic” orientation to the case that the person is making flexibility (Creswell 2006; Bogdan the investigation. In other words, the humorous comment to distract & Biklen 2007). In the context of qualitative researchers usually go others’ attention away from a gaffe humour analysis and its similarities directly to a particular place or setting that he or she has committed). to qualitative research, some of the to make observations of subjects and above-listed features are particularly record data. The instance or setting 3. The Incongruity Theory noteworthy, as discussed below. in which the investigator is collecting According to Cooper (2008), The most common type of humour data is expected to be as close to incongruity theory is different from analysis deals with the analysis of the “natural” state as possible. the previous two theories in that, spoken or written jokes. Jokes consist The analysis of humour can also be while they try to explain how certain of either written or spoken words; naturalistic in its orientation. If the conditions motivate humour in therefore, analyzing jokes entails specific instances of humour (mostly people, it focuses on the object that the analysis of the words (in the jokes) are gleaned from regular is the source of the humour (joke, form of phrases or sentences). This (i.e. spontaneous and unscripted) cartoon, etc.). More specifically, this fact alone makes it easy to see why conversations, then the “data” so theory posits that for an object to humour analysis can be regarded as a procured can be classified as those have a humorous effect, it has to qualitative research tool. from a naturalistic setting. If the jokes harbour some kind of incongruity are embedded in the script of movies, within itself. The incongruity can exist In terms of data analysis, qualitative then there is still an air of “quasi- between what an individual expects research involves coding techniques naturalness” about them and that and what actually occurs (Veale, to organize the data and to allow can provide insightful information 2004). themes or patterns to emerge from 2 http://sru.soc.surrey.ac.uk/ social research UPDATE about the type of humour that is diverse range of cultural and social (Barbour 1998; Holmes & Marra publicly acceptable in that society. phenomena. 2002). Schnurr (2008) looks at how humour is used diplomatically in Another signature feature of Humour analysis can also be the workplace by female leaders qualitative research is its reliance on applied to understand how people to balance their gender and inductive analysis. Inductive analysis behave in special situations, professional identities, thus enabling entails the gathering of data and including the possibility that there them to appear authoritative in then seeing what patterns or themes may be differences in this regard their leadership roles (but without emerge from the data. Most types between the two genders (Hay projecting an excessively masculine or of qualitative research follow this 2000; Crawford 2003). De Koning feminine image). Of course, humour script, regardless of the methodology and Weiss (2002) discuss the in the workplace has its dark side employed (be it grounded theory, important role that humour plays also, given its potential to offend phenomenology, etc.). Humour in the formation and functioning colleagues and adversely affect analysis can follow the same method of intimate relationships. On the workplace camaraderie. of inductive analysis. Instances of negative side, humour analysis can humour (e.g., jokes) are “mined” also shed light on how males can Another fascinating and insightful from conversations or printed manifest their dominance and power use of humour analysis is for cross- matter (such as movie scripts)
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