Qualitative Psychology Nexus, Vol. VI: Qualitative psychology in the changing academic context

The sixth volume of the Qualitative Psychology Nexus comprises documents and contributions of the sixth international meeting on qualitative psychology, organized by EARLI SIG 17 "Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches to Learning and Instruction". The meeting was organised by the Centre for Qualitative Psychology and the University of Latvia to deepen our joint understanding of learning and instruction in the changing academic context. It took place in Riga (Latvia), October 20-22, 2006 as the SIG 17 meeting between the biennale EARLI conferences. There were 28 participants from 7 countries: Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Canada, Sweden and Latvia. The participants focused on discussing the contributions of qualitatively oriented psychologists in Europe and the changes that are taking place currently in the European academic world following the Bologna process. The presenters touched upon topical issues concerning changes in higher education following the decisions of Bologna Process, the latest ideas concerning qualitative research and how qualitative methods work in pedagogy and psychology: ? The role of the Bologna process for the institutionalization of qualitative research methods; ? Teaching qualitative methods in the BA/MA system; ? The role of qualitative research methods in the restructuring-process; ? Implementation of Qualitative research in the BA/MA programmes; ? Potentials for interdisciplinary approaches; ? Purpose of qualitative methods in psychology and pedagogy; ? Contribution of the presenters' researches to favour the development of academic psychology and pedagogy.