In my preliminar research exploration, I made use of a Mixed Methods approach which could be also called Integral Approach or Integral Methodological Pluralism (IMP)* (Wilber, 2007; Esbjörn-Hargens, 2006).
IMP embraces a complementary use of six (6) specific quantitative & qualitative methodologies corresponding to different perspectives of Integral Theory's AQAL Model(Wilber, 2007, 2000).
Integral Theory is an emergent academic field conceived by the contemporary philosopher & authorKen Wilber (KenWilber.com)*, which has been gradually developed by him in conjunction with scholars and researchers from several fields and activities. Integral Theory is a post disciplinary framework that allows integral practitioners and researchers to cover multiple facets, dimensions and perspectives of any given phenomena; with no ontological or epistemological a priori. It is based on the fact that "reality" is a result of the interdependence of various co-arising and complementary aspects, which are skillfuly categorized in the AQAL Model.
* Recent books by Ken Wilber (KenWilber.com, 2008).
Ken Wilber is the founder of the Integral Institute, including the emergent academic fields of Integral Theory and Integral Psychology, among many others. Having already written more than 25 books now published in more than 30 languages, Wilber is today “the most translated academic author [in consciousness studies] and arguably the most systematic comprehensive contemporary philosophical thinker” (Marquis, 2008, p. xiii). Wilber also participated with philosophical commentaries in conjunction with Dr. Cornel West in The MatrixTriology movies, from the Ultimate Matrix Collection DVDs (Warner, 2004).
Integral Theory (or Integral Model) brings an inclusive, deep, and balanced approach to the multi-dimensional complexity of any reality and phenomena, especially through the AQAL Model, which can be theoretically applied into any area of study and application.
Currently, there are already several branches of Integral Theorybeing explored by variousscholars, researchers and practicioners from many Universities, Institutions, and Organizations, including various specific frameworks such as:
Follow below a definition of the Integral Model by two leading integral researchers, Gwen Gordon, M.A. & Sean Esbjörn-Hargens, PhD (2007):
In a world characterized by disciplinary turf wars and clashes between traditional, modern, and postmodern perspectives, Wilber has written extensively on the value of, and need for, an Integral approach and has played an important role in establishing Integral Theory, a postdisciplinary framework for today's complex world … There are five elements that comprise an Integral approach: quadrants, levels, lines, states, and types. These five components, referred to by the acronym AQAL … represent the intrinsic perspectives that occur at all scales and in all contexts.
The AQAL (pronounced aqual) Model is the one of essences of the work of Ken Wilber.
AQAL stands for all Quadrants (perspectives or dimensions of life & reality), all Levels (of development), all Lines (of intelligence), all States (of consciousness) and all Types (gender, personality, etc.). See more info on Integral Psychology.
Fig. 1: Integral Theory and AQAL diagrams from Integral Institute, 2003
Based on the AQAL framework, I interweaved both First- (subjective realm), Second- (Inter-subjective realm), and Third-person (Objective realm) methods of inquiry (Torbert, 2004; Esbjörn-Hargens, 2006; Wilber, 2007) in my research exploration. This approach was chosen with the purpose of bringing together the strengths of both quantitative and qualitative research in order to compare, validate, confirm, complement, contrast and/or corroborate quantitative results with qualitative findings.
In my research, two different modes of each line of inquiry (First-, Second-, and Third-person) were used to investigate the potential role that video games could have in terms of facilitating human development in new, meaningful, and effective ways.
Those modes corresponded to the application of six specific and complementary methodologies related to the Integral Methodological Pluralism, including:
Phenomenology: Experiential accounts from subjective video game “play” experiences, autobiographical inquiry, journals and observations.
Structuralism: Personality Type explorations: Enneagram and Myers-Briggs. Developmental assessments: Cook-Greuter’s (2008) Sentence Completion Test.
Hermeneutics: Interviews and Discussions with lead integral thinkers - Ken Wilber, David Zeitler, and others - and lead game designers - Daniel Erickson from Bioware, one of the most successful and “thoughtful” video game companies nowadays; among others.
Ethnomethodology: Full 5-day Participant-Observer attendance at one of world’s biggest Game Developers Conference (GDC 2008) with +16,000 participants and +120 expositors (plus a series of subsequent conferences and events).
Systems Analysis: Research on educational system as related to video games, Integral Education and Integral Play Theory.Extensive Academic and Media Research.
Empiricism: Empirical Analysis including surveyand comparative analysis of 150 people from 3 different groups related to the main topic of the research.
In my preliminar research exploration, I made use of a Mixed Methods approach which could be also called Integral Approach or Integral Methodological Pluralism (IMP)* (Wilber, 2007; Esbjörn-Hargens, 2006).
