About Us

Where we've come from

The Association for Qualitative Research was developed by researchers who were passionate to promote innovative debate and discourse around new approaches to the ‘doing’ of research in the late 1980s and early 1990s.  These forerunners articulated and supported innovations in qualitative research practices from the Northern hemisphere into the Australian context. In doing so, this organisation has led the way in opening up ways of seeing that hitherto had been an absent presence in Australian methodological discussions in a range of fields.

AQR today

In 2010 AQR is increasingly informed by an understanding of qualitative research practices that are eclectic, inclusive and situated in a range of lives and experiences. AQR has a vision for working with and promoting a range of contemporary approaches and developing understandings as to what qualitative research looks like, feels like and imagines it might become. Therefore AQR sees itself as a forum for provocative, critical and complicated conversations around the possibilities for contemporary qualitative research approaches in social inquiry.

AQR is committed to facilitating opportunities for networking amongst emergent and established researchers in a supportive, friendly and mutually constructive environment. We endeavour to ‘practice what we preach’ by providing opportunities that cater for all.

We will be running a series of workshops in 2010. See the events page (which will be updated shortly) for details. The first event that we announce for 2010 is a public lecture to be delivered on the 4^th October by Professor Laurel Richardson from the State University of Ohio.

AQR is committed to acknowledging both local and international qualitative researchers and to bringing international experts to disseminate current thinking and debates. We pride ourselves on showcasing emergent and established Australian researchers and aim to disseminate ideas that are uniquely relevant to and arise out of Australian contexts.