CAUGHT IN THE PARADIGM GAP - QUALITATIVE RESEARCHERS LIVED EXPERIENCEAND THE POLITICS OF EPISTEMOLOGY

For 8 years at national conferences and from academic listserves, we c ollected qualitative researchers' narratives about problems encountere d and solutions tried while researching. Using an emergent design and analytic induction, and triangulating across researcher perspectives, we produced three successive descriptive-interpretive frameworks for u nderstanding researchers' lived experience during the shift from singl e to multiple research paradigms. The data show misunderstanding and r esistance affecting these researchers at all levels of practice, sugge sting a cumulative effect on knowledge in our field. Despite some posi tive research contexts, most study participants perceived and internal ized conflicted epistemologies. We conclude that our field needs to be come more reflective about practice and to develop a more deeply democ ratic discourse for research, one grounded in principles of academic f reedom and supported by the conviction that diversity engenders streng th.