Phil Carspecken
Encyclopedia
Phil Francis Carspecken is a Professor
of Inquiry Methodology at Indiana University
in Bloomington, Indiana
. He graduated from Aston University
in 1987 with a Ph.D. in Sociology
, with specializations in Social Theory
, Social Movements, Urban Sociology
, Cultural Studies
, Ethnographic research, and Educational Sociology. He is also a graduate of the University of Wisconsin where he received a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology
with minors in Math and Philosophy. Prior to his current appointment at Indiana University
, Phil Carspecken was an Associate professor at the University of Houston
.
In his academic career, Carspecken works to relate the philosophy of critical theory
from the Frankfurt School
and the Theory of Communicative Action of Jürgen Habermas
in particular, to educational research
. The most widely distributed work in which Phil Carspecken does this is Critical Ethnography in Educational Research; A Theoretical and Practical Guide. This text is known in qualitative
educational research
and has been translated in several languages including Chinese. His most recent projects include an investigation into the limits of what can be known. This work will be published in the forthcoming book Can a Theory of Everything Explain Itself? Limits to knowledge in the physical and social sciences. At Indiana University
, Carspecken has assisted in the development of the world’s first graduate program in inquiry methodology. This program integrates both qualitative
and quantitative
methodology
tracks of study within one degree program. Carspecken has earned many awards for his teaching both at the University of Houston
and Indiana University
, where he has nurtured many generations of students.
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Inquiry Methodology at Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
in Bloomington, Indiana
Bloomington, Indiana
Bloomington is a city in and the county seat of Monroe County in the southern region of the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 80,405 at the 2010 census....
. He graduated from Aston University
Aston University
Aston University is a "plate glass" campus university situated at Gosta Green, in the city centre of Birmingham, England.Established in 1895 as the Birmingham Municipal Technical School, Aston was granted its Royal Charter as Aston University on 22 April 1966...
in 1987 with a Ph.D. in Sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
, with specializations in Social Theory
Social theory
Social theories are theoretical frameworks which are used to study and interpret social phenomena within a particular school of thought. An essential tool used by social scientists, theories relate to historical debates over the most valid and reliable methodologies , as well as the primacy of...
, Social Movements, Urban Sociology
Urban sociology
Urban sociology is the sociological study of social life and human interaction in metropolitan areas. It is a normative discipline of sociology seeking to study the structures, processes, changes and problems of an urban area and by doing so providing inputs for planning and policy making. Like...
, Cultural Studies
Cultural studies
Cultural studies is an academic field grounded in critical theory and literary criticism. It generally concerns the political nature of contemporary culture, as well as its historical foundations, conflicts, and defining traits. It is, to this extent, largely distinguished from cultural...
, Ethnographic research, and Educational Sociology. He is also a graduate of the University of Wisconsin where he received a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology
Cultural anthropology
Cultural anthropology is a branch of anthropology focused on the study of cultural variation among humans, collecting data about the impact of global economic and political processes on local cultural realities. Anthropologists use a variety of methods, including participant observation,...
with minors in Math and Philosophy. Prior to his current appointment at Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
, Phil Carspecken was an Associate professor at the University of Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
.
In his academic career, Carspecken works to relate the philosophy of critical theory
Critical theory
Critical theory is an examination and critique of society and culture, drawing from knowledge across the social sciences and humanities. The term has two different meanings with different origins and histories: one originating in sociology and the other in literary criticism...
from the Frankfurt School
Frankfurt School
The Frankfurt School refers to a school of neo-Marxist interdisciplinary social theory, particularly associated with the Institute for Social Research at the University of Frankfurt am Main...
and the Theory of Communicative Action of Jürgen Habermas
Jürgen Habermas
Jürgen Habermas is a German sociologist and philosopher in the tradition of critical theory and pragmatism. He is perhaps best known for his theory on the concepts of 'communicative rationality' and the 'public sphere'...
in particular, to educational research
Educational research
Educational research refers to a variety of methods, in which individuals evaluate different aspects of education including but not limited to: “student learning, teaching methods, teacher training, and classroom dynamics”....
. The most widely distributed work in which Phil Carspecken does this is Critical Ethnography in Educational Research; A Theoretical and Practical Guide. This text is known in qualitative
Qualitative research
Qualitative research is a method of inquiry employed in many different academic disciplines, traditionally in the social sciences, but also in market research and further contexts. Qualitative researchers aim to gather an in-depth understanding of human behavior and the reasons that govern such...
educational research
Educational research
Educational research refers to a variety of methods, in which individuals evaluate different aspects of education including but not limited to: “student learning, teaching methods, teacher training, and classroom dynamics”....
and has been translated in several languages including Chinese. His most recent projects include an investigation into the limits of what can be known. This work will be published in the forthcoming book Can a Theory of Everything Explain Itself? Limits to knowledge in the physical and social sciences. At Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
, Carspecken has assisted in the development of the world’s first graduate program in inquiry methodology. This program integrates both qualitative
Qualitative research
Qualitative research is a method of inquiry employed in many different academic disciplines, traditionally in the social sciences, but also in market research and further contexts. Qualitative researchers aim to gather an in-depth understanding of human behavior and the reasons that govern such...
and quantitative
Quantitative
A quantitative property is one that exists in a range of magnitudes, and can therefore be measured with a number. Measurements of any particular quantitative property are expressed as a specific quantity, referred to as a unit, multiplied by a number. Examples of physical quantities are distance,...
methodology
Methodology
Methodology is generally a guideline for solving a problem, with specificcomponents such as phases, tasks, methods, techniques and tools . It can be defined also as follows:...
tracks of study within one degree program. Carspecken has earned many awards for his teaching both at the University of Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
and Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
, where he has nurtured many generations of students.
See also
- Inquiry Methodology
- Qualitative ResearchQualitative ResearchQualitative Research is a bimonthly peer-reviewed academic journal published by SAGE Publications, focusing on qualitative research methods in social sciences and cultural studies. It publishes research articles and review articles.-References:*...
- Critical TheoryCritical theoryCritical theory is an examination and critique of society and culture, drawing from knowledge across the social sciences and humanities. The term has two different meanings with different origins and histories: one originating in sociology and the other in literary criticism...
- Critical EthnographyCritical EthnographyCritical ethnography applies a critical theory based approach to ethnography. It focuses on the implicit values expressed within ethnographic studies and, therefore, on the unacknowledged biases that may result from such implicit values. It has been called critical theory in practice...
- Jürgen HabermasJürgen HabermasJürgen Habermas is a German sociologist and philosopher in the tradition of critical theory and pragmatism. He is perhaps best known for his theory on the concepts of 'communicative rationality' and the 'public sphere'...