Exploring the Terrain of Post-Qualitative Research Methodologies

Introduction. In the 21st century, post-qualitative research has emerged as a novel methodology rooted in post-philosophical thought and can be described as an effort to move beyond the common boundaries of qualitative methodologies. It embraces a more fluid, non-linear, non-monolithic, and flexible approach that draws on postmodernism, poststructuralism, and posthumanism philosophies. Post-qualitative research, data interpretation, and analysis do not occur through mechanical coding, limiting data to themes, and creating transparent narratives. 

Goals and Methods. Our research aims to elucidate the distinctive features and prevailing trends of post-qualitative inquiry combining a bibliometric analysis with a qualitative systematic review. While applying bibliometric analysis, more than 300 articles were collected in WOS database. A bibliometric analysis (Donthu et al., 2021) focuses on publication patterns, citation networks, country-wise distribution of publications, revealing a collaboration. For the analysis of articles, the qualitative systematic review (Grant & Booth, 2009) of primary qualitative research studies was used.

Findings. The bibliometric analysis provides a clear picture of the intellectual landscape of post-qualitative research, showing how it connects to both established methodologies and newer philosophical ideas, like posthumanism and new materialism. A qualitative systematic review revealed several characteristics, including the observation that post-qualitative research methodologies are frequently employed in the development of rhizomatic concepts and the application of rhizomatic thinking, which emphasizes non-linear, interconnected approaches to understanding knowledge, relationships, and processes.

Conclusions. Post-qualitative research methodologies challenge traditional, positivist notions of research, particularly around objectivity and the centrality of human meaning-making. These methodologies seek to move beyond qualitative research practices by focusing on fluid, processual, and emergent ways of knowing, which resist fixed categories and deterministic interpretations of data. The research has shown that post-qualitative research methodologies embrace interdisciplinarity, interactive tools, and analysing not only Anthropocene but also Plantationocene, Capitalocene, Chthulucene issues.