Kip Jones

KIP JONES, an American by birth, has been studying and working in the UK for more than 20 years.
Under the umbrella term of 'arts-led research', his main efforts have involved developing tools
from the arts and humanities for use by social scientists in research and its impact on a wider
public or a Perfomative Social Science.

Jones was Reader in Performative Social Science and Qualitative Research at
Bournemouth University for 15 years.
He is now a Visiting Scholar and and an independent author and scholar.

Kip has produced films and written many articles for academic journals and authored chapters
for books on topics such as masculinity, ageing and rurality, and older LGBT citizens.
Jones' most recent work involves working with Generation Z youth to tell their stories using
social media.
His ground-breaking use of qualitative methods, including Auto-fiction, biography
and auto-ethnography, and the use of tools from the arts in social science research
and dissemination are well-known.

Jones acted as Author and Executive Producer of
the award-winning short film, RUFUS STONE, funded by Research Councils UK.
The film is now available for free viewing on the Internet
and has been viewed by more than 14,000 people in 150 countries.

Areas of expertise
• Close relationships, culture and ethnicity
• Social psychology, sociology
• Ageing, self and identity
• Interpersonal processes, personality,
individual differences,
social networks, prejudice and stereotyping
• Sexuality and sexual orientation
• Creativity and the use of the
arts in Social Science

Media experience
His work has been reported widely
in the media, including:
BBC Radio 4,BBC TV news,Times
Higher Education, Sunday New
York Times, International
Herald-Tribune
and The Independent.

Saturday 21 March 2009

Invitation to controversy

I just received the following invitation from Alex Cuncev, who has diligently been creating METHODSPACE, a web resource for researchers which includes ten discussion groups, including ones for narrative research and performative social science.

I was wondering whether you would be interested in posting a controversy topic on a blog or as a part of a discussion group? The site is due to open to the public next week and having interesting topics might help to get more researchers with similar interests involved in discussion. Also a debate generated by you would contribute to raising the site’s academic profile.
Once again thank you for being involved!
Best wishes,
Alex Cuncev

My response follows:

Dear Alex,

Thanks for your invitation to controversy (I think). I am not one to seek controversy, but it does follow me from time to time.

A few questions that I have been pondering lately (arising from encounters, experiences, etc working with PSS):

  1. Are we willing to dwell in ‘not knowing’? Really dwell, and not jump to comfortable conclusions (or, heaven forbid, superimpose predetermined theoretical frameworks on all of human existence!)
  2. Are we able to accept several truths, even layers of truth? Is our take on 'the truth' more important than community and its needs and responses to us and our efforts?
  3. Is it possible to become a more ethical person, rather than more astute at defending our ethics?
  4. Are we secure enough in our own abilities to allow ourselves (and our work) to be influenced, even changed, by the thoughts and talents of others outside of our own comfort zone and discipline?
  5. If a film, or piece of music or dance or opera is able to move me and profoundly effect me, why shouldn't my research do the same for others? Is this possible? What are we waiting for, then?
  6. When was the last time we laughed at ourselves?

Cheers,
kip

To join METHODSPACE click on the link and sign up



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