ABSTRACT
Introduction Many of our colleagues have argued that there is a need for research that refl ects the complexity of contemporary theoretical and paradigmatic understandings. We share this view. We fi nd that our own thinking is often informed by paradigms and theories that call on researchers to question and reject unifying defi nitions, grand narratives and claims of universal truths. As such, our goal in this chapter is to move in a different direction from the authoritative tone that is sometimes present in the ‘overview of theory’ portions of books on qualitative research. In place of the list of defi nitions, categories, charts and graphs that can contribute toward a directive, how-to discourse, we would like to consider what it might mean to listen, engage and communicate with the many voices, stories, identities and positionalities that can compose theory.
