Self and Subjectivity in Social Research

This is a book that thinks about what it means to be human and what this could mean for social research. 

Addressing ontological shifts across the social sciences, the book reconsiders the nature of self, experience and social reality and their implications for doing research differently. It delves into wide-ranging topics from the self in crisis, through the self and the nature of language, to ethics and the self. 

The book also:

• Helps you understand epistemology and ontology in practice with case studies of real world research;


• Critiques dominant approaches and examines global perspectives and contexts that challenge them;


• Explores the potential of interdisciplinary approaches to resolve tensions in social research;


• Discusses how ontology can shape research practice, policy development and social support systems.

This book will help postgraduate students, academics, researchers and teachers embrace new ways of thinking about self and subjectivity.

Donna M. Thomas is a Research Fellow at the University of Central Lancashire and Co-director of ICreateS International Research Unit & Research.



Sarah Durston is head of the Sentience and Science Foundation, the Netherlands, honorary professor at UCLan and co-director of the ICreateS research unit, and professor in developmental neuroscience at Utrecht University, the Netherlands.