Bourdieu’s Reflexive Sociology as a Theoretical Basis for Mixed Methods Research

Abstract

Although mixing quantitative and qualitative methods is increasingly popular, there is insufficient theoretical rationale for doing so. Foremost among the legacy left to the social and behavioral sciences by French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu stands his emphasis on methodological reflexivity. Reflexive sociology as elaborated by Bourdieu is a self-referential methodology of social research, which turns methods of constructing the research object back on themselves so as to produce more accurate understanding of the social world. Using the sociology of alternative medicine as an illustration, this article casts Bourdieu’s reflexive sociology as a theoretical basis for mixed methods research that can offer insights into the interplay of structure and agency in human behavior.