Four types of research in the humanities: setting the stage for research quality criteria in the humanities

Abstract

This study presents humanities scholars' conceptions of research and subjective notions of quality in the three disciplines German literature studies, English literature studies, and art history, captured using 21 Repertory Grid interviews. We identified three dimensions that structure the scholars' conceptions of research: quality, time, and success. Further, the results revealed four types of research in the humanities: positively connoted ‘traditional' research (characterized as individual, discipline-oriented, and ground-breaking research), positively connoted ‘modern' research (cooperative, interdisciplinary, and socially relevant), negatively connoted ‘traditional' research (isolated, reproductive, and conservative), and negatively connoted ‘modern' research (career oriented, epigonal, calculated). In addition, 15 quality criteria for research in the three disciplines German literature studies, English literature studies, and art history were derived from the Repertory Grid interviews