Perspective shift as an abductive method to explore frustrations

Abstract

Abduction is described by Peirce as a process that occurs when the researcher encounters something that is puzzling in an empirical material and which, after some thought, contributes to the emergence of new ideas that can be investigated further. Despite Peirce's extensive publications dealing with this process, he is extremely frugal in providing methodological advice on how to move from something puzzling to new insights. Peirce's concept of habituation can provide some guidance, which according to Peirce means that the researcher needs a readiness to think in new ways, i.e. an ability to constantly learn in order to develop new thought patterns where inspiration can be obtained from a variety of materials and people. This article presents a shift of perspective as a method which can help the researcher with the moving from limiting to new thought patterns. The method initially means that the researcher stops at the statements and reflects on her/his own perspective, in fact her/his own thought patterns formed from previous experiences. The own understanding is then placed in relation to the perspective from which the interviewee speaks, which is also shaped by previous experiences. How to use the method is illustrated on the basis of an ethnographic interview material with older male local police officers that tells about the new organizational practice that arose with the local police reform.