The Integration of Interpretation Pattern and Discourse Analysis in the Study of Heterodox Knowledge

Extraordinary experiences and perceptions of the world, as examined by the cultural-scientific research of the frontier areas and/or anomalistics, correspond to heterodox bodies of knowledge that run contrary to socially accepted interpretations and scientifically dominant explanations. Based on a basic understanding of the sociology of knowledge (Berger/Luckmann 1967), according to which culturally valid stores of knowledge basically constitute our social reality, the project tries to find out the role “heterodox knowledge” can theoretically play here and what role it actually plays empirically. The study focuses on two specific formations of knowledge that have a special significance for the transfer and the daily application of the knowledge of reality: interpretation patterns and discourses. In the process it shall be particularly investigated how previously competing empirical methods can be unified for the assessment and analysis of such heterodox bodies of knowledge and forms of practice.

In concrete terms the methodologically oriented project traces in several steps the possibility to integrate the two complex socio-scientific research programmes of (a) the interpretation pattern analysis and (b) the discourse analysis from a perspective of the sociology of knowledge. The references used are on the one hand the interpretation pattern theory of a sociology of knowledge provided by Plaß and Schetsche (2001) and on the other hand, the method of the discourse analysis of a sociology of knowledge formulated by Keller (2005). The first intended step is to critically trace the integration strategies experimentally applied to the study “Satanismus und satanisch-ritualistischer Missbrauch in Deutschland” (Satanism and Satanic Ritual Abuse in Germany) completed in 2008 and to examine them for their potential of a generalisation. This will be followed by the attempt to achieve a formulated methodology of the integral discourse and interpretation pattern analysis through a systematisation of the analysis methods. In further steps this method will eventually be applied to various exemplary investigation areas of our research field. Several parts of the project are integrated into the methodological training of the Institute for Sociology of the University of Freiburg.

Project Leader: PD Dr. Michael Schetsche

Staff member: Dr. Ina Schmied-Knittel