Hidden Contexts, Multilevel Comparisons, and the Postcolonial Location: Reconsidering the Documentary Method Vis-à-Vis Decolonization

Postcolonialism and decoloniality, which question the epistemology of Western science as a colonial construct, also challenge qualitative methods. Based on an overview of various attempts to decolonize qualitative methods, this article explores how the Documentary Method, a methodology for reconstructing the modus operandi of social practices, can avoid the pitfalls of colonial epistemology. To achieve this, it is crucial to consider multiple contexts to adequately interpret the utterances and actions of research participants. Comparative and multilevel analyses help not only to uncover hidden contexts but also to give voice to previously unconsidered social groups, such as subaltern and oppressed communities. The concept of “postcolonial location” is newly introduced as a theoretically elaborated search strategy to focus researchers’ attention on the potential coloniality of practices. Rather than relying on self-confession, self-reflexivity is methodically initiated and controlled.