ABSTRACT
Systemic structural constellations are part of qualitative research; they can be used in an exploratory and hypothesis-generating way. They can be assigned to field and action research (Bryman, 2012). Currently, qualitative research in socio-science and arts is ostensibly focused on conscious data (see also Christie and Miller, 2016; Kyburz-Graber, 2016; Rowe and Hiser, 2016; Wahr and de la Harpe, 2016). Up to now, there’s often been double hermeneutics (Ginev, 2007; Giddens, 1984), as researchers make either interpretations or socially adapted evaluations of interviewees or involved persons in research settings. However, neuroscience has showed that our decisions were prepared by our unconsciousness (Soon et al., 2008).1 Thus, while reducing one level of hermeneutics and finding stable or sustainable solutions, the unconsciousness should be taken more into account in research settings. Integrating unconscious interaction and decision making in scientific research enables more reliable and valid knowledge and can foster efficient and effective transformation. The strong focus on conscious knowledge, behaviour and decision making can be one reason for all the difficulties in implementing sustainability issues within a broad scope of action, as well as the remaining gap between explicit knowledge and behaviour. Thus, a stronger emphasis and embedment of unconscious knowledge and decision-making in research designs will be necessary.
