The Holidays and the Qualitative Researcher Mindset:
Lessons and Opportunities

The holiday season offers a unique pause in the rhythm of academic and professional life, creating space for reflection, connection, and renewal. For qualitative researchers, this period presents not only rest from fieldwork and analysis but also an opportunity to re-engage with the deeper human values that sustain qualitative inquiry. The holidays invite us to reconsider the mindset that defines our work — one that encompasses curiosity, empathy, reflexivity, and attentiveness to meaning — through both personal and professional lenses. From this perspective, the season becomes a living field of observation, learning, and transformation.

The first lesson of the holidays is the importance of reflection. Qualitative research is inherently interpretive, requiring researchers to revisit data, re-examine perspectives, and make sense of complexity. Similarly, the end of 2025 prompts researchers to reflect on their own experiences: the stories they have gathered, the voices they have amplified, and the insights they have gained. Reflection in both research and life transforms scattered experiences into understanding. It helps researchers connect their professional roles with their personal growth, nurturing humility and a deeper awareness of the human condition.

The second lesson is rooted in empathy—the heart of qualitative inquiry. The holidays are a time when empathy becomes visible in daily interactions: families reconnect, communities support one another, and generosity replaces competition. For qualitative researchers, empathy is more than a social virtue; it is an epistemological stance. It enables us to enter the lived realities of participants and understand their experiences from their perspectives. The holiday season, therefore, serves as a reminder that empathy must extend beyond the research context. It should also shape how we treat colleagues, students, and ourselves; reinforcing a sense of shared humanity.

The third lesson is that the holidays also present opportunities for renewed observation. Everyday life during this period is rich with social meaning — cultural rituals, family traditions, and communal celebrations all become natural laboratories of human behavior. Even when not formally conducting research, a qualitative mind remains observant. Simple moments — a grandmother’s story, a neighborhood festivity, or a quiet act of kindness — can inspire new research questions or deepen our understanding of identity, belonging, and emotion.

These observations remind us that qualitative research begins in everyday encounters long before it reaches the academic page. The holidays also offer an opportunity for reconnection with purpose. In the demanding pace of research, it is easy to lose sight of the “why” that motivates our inquiry. Stepping back allows us to recall that qualitative research ultimately seeks to give voice to the silenced, to illuminate the complexities of human experience, and to contribute to social understanding. This renewed sense of purpose can guide our future projects with more authenticity and ethical clarity.

Finally, the season encourages gratitude, a value often overlooked in academic culture but essential for relational and ethical research. Gratitude acknowledges the trust participants place in us, the mentorship we receive, and the communities that sustain our intellectual lives. It transforms research from a technical task into a moral partnership.

Edivaldo Abel, PhD
Chair, QLRC Marketing & Communication