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ABSTRACT Getting the Dream Down and Following Where It Leads Dr. Iain R. Edgar Iain Edgar lectures in Anthropology at Durham University, U.K. His Ph.D study (Keele University, U.K.) of meaning-making in dreamwork groups was published in Dreamwork, Anthropology and the Caring Professions: A Cultural Approach to Dreamwork, Avebury 1995. He is currently writing a book on using imagery, including dream, as a research methodology. Summary of Presentation I argue that an imagination-based
research methodology, particularly including dreamwork, constitutes a coherent
research methodology and field. By methodology, I mean that such research
draws on a distinctive: epistemology, theory, research questions, group and
researcher process, research ethics and practice, reflexive/bias issues,
questions of validity, replicability, validity and so forth.
Evaluation questions: Abstract In this paper I argue, with examples from my own dream and imagework groups, that imagination-based research methods, including dreamwork, constitutes a coherent research methodology, which can be related to and integrated with other innovative research methodologies, such as transpersonal (Baud & Anderson 1998), participatory (Pretty et al 1995) and arts-based research methodologies. Overall, I propose that researching the experience, observation, recollection, telling, meaning attribution and external artistic performance of the internal image of the subject(s) constitutes a research arena, domain or field that is of increasing importance in the holistic study of contemporary human experience. By methodology, I mean that such research draws on a distinctive: epistemology, theory, sets of research questions, group and researcher processes, research ethics and practices, issues of reflexivity and bias, questions of validity, replicability, validity and so forth (de Munck & Sobo 1998). I articulate a potential taxonomy of different levels of imagework, ranging from introductory imagework, memory imagework, spontaneous imagework and dream imagework (Edgar 1999 and Forthcoming). I propose that the use of imagework methods can generate more holistic expressions of self-identities and implicit world-views, than other current research methodologies. Such results come from combining rational with affective and intuitive aspects of the self. I illustrate my argument with examples. I demonstrate how such image and dreamwork methods share significant distinctive and common intellectual and pragmatic concerns and issues in their use as research methods that I will develop and illustrate in my paper. For example, until there is further intellectual clarification as to the many forms of the imagination: fantasy, memory, dreaming, trance, vision etc. then the epistemological progress of such a research methodology remains problematic. The Sufi-inspired (Corbin 1966) concept of the imaginal, now being adopted by some New Age theorists (Noel 1977; Rowan 1992) offers a possible way forward. Overall, I will consider how an imagination-based or imaginally-based research methodology can be coherently constructed, identified and validated as a core means of gaining hitherto, often, unknown understanding of our human condition and potential.
References
Braud, W. and Anderson, R. (1998) Transpersonal Research Methods for the Social Sciences, London: Sage. Corbin, H. (1966) 'The Visionary Dream in Islamic Spirituality', In Von Grunebaum G. and Callois R. (eds.) The Dream in Human Societies, Berkeley: University of California Press. De Munck & Sobo, E. (1998) Using methods in the Field: A Practical Introduction and Casebook, Walnut Creek, CA: Altamira/Sage. Edgar, I. (1999) 'The Imagework Method in Social Science and Health Research', Qualitative Health Research, 9(2): 198-211. Edgar, I. (Forthcoming) A Guide to Imagework: Imagination-based Research Methods, London: Routledge. Noel, D. (1997) The Soul of Shamanism, New York: Continuum. Pretty, J., Gujit, I., Thompson, J.,& Scoones, I. (1995) A Trainer's Guide for Participatory Learning and Action, London: International Institute for Environment and Development. Rowan, J. (1992) The Transpersonal: Psychotherapy and Counselling, London: Routledge,.
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