Coming to and being with affect: On the space between theory, method, and the researcher

Abstract

This article examines the intricate relationship between affect theory and qualitative research methodology. Departing from the authors' experiences as doctoral researchers encountering and engaging with affect, the article explores how different trajectories with affect contribute to shaping research processes and outcomes. Rooted in feminist scholarship, the paper adopts a pragmatic approach to affect, delving into practical applications of affect in qualitative research. Drawing on diverse methodological approaches, it showcases how affect can be empirically investigated. Through three case studies, discussing activist encounters, feelings of representation in institutional contexts, and an attentiveness to feelings and emotions in organisational ethnography, the paper illuminates affect's permeation of research design, data collection, and analysis in different ways. Ultimately, the article aims to demystify affect's use in research, advocating for its productive engagement and transformative capacity. By foregrounding affect as both a theoretical lens and a practical tool, the article offers insights into understanding lived experiences, social worlds, and power relations, fostering a relational form of knowledge production.