CHAPTER 2: A PRACTICAL THEOLOGICAL METHODOLOGY 85 on the data.219 This study intends to formulate hypotheses and a theological theory based on observations of a particular reality and to articulate implications for the debate. Data collection: Interviews and transcripts The observations which form the basis of the theological theory of this study were mainly done through interviews. The interviews were conducted during visits to Taizé (July 2017) and Bose (October 2017), which also enabled me to immerse myself in the daily rhythm and spirituality of the communities and to witness the practice with which the interviews were concerned. My description of this practice is partly based on participant observation in the monasteries: to that end, I have participated in the prayer services and Eucharistic liturgies of the communities. 220 As expressed in section 2.3, the interviews were designed to explore the field in a qualitative way using narrative and biographic approaches. Concretely, I have conducted individual interviews. A first round of interviews was planned upon arrival, leaving time for additional sessions if necessary. Indeed, after an initial evaluation of the interviews, I felt that it would be worthwhile to initiate a second cycle of interviews to dig deeper into a number of the themes, to double-check some of the statements made, and to give the interviewees a chance to let the first session ‘sink in’ and to reflect on it once again after several days. Each interview was preceded by a short introduction about the research and then started with an open invitation to recall one’s own life history, with special focus on his or her personal ecumenical development and experiences with Eucharistic hospitality. Subsequent questions aimed at encouraging the interviewee to continue his or her story or to ask for clarification. The interviewees thus narrated their personal experience with ecumenism in general and with Eucharistic hospitality (or a lack thereof), typically followed by a more theoretical reflection on these. When a point of saturation was 219 In an explorative study like this, it is rather tempting to adopt an uninformed approach since that would minimize ‘contamination’ of the data with existing theories. Discussing the various options, however, Robert Thornberg has convincingly argued that a strictly uninformed position is neither possible nor desirable. See Robert Thornberg, “Informed Grounded Theory,” Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research 56, no. 3 (2012): 243–59, https://doi.org/10.1080/00313831.2011.581686. Cf. Ven, Practical Theology, 121. 220 I have visited both monasteries several times in order to get acquainted and to observe the communities and their practices. These visits, one or two weeks each, took place in July 2017 (Taizé, after earlier visits independent of this research project) and in February/March 2017, October 2017, and March 2019 (Bose).
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTk4NDMw