Humanistic Inquiry in Marketing Research: Philosophy, Method, and Criteria

As the conception of what marketing is has evolved, so must the methods of inquiry also evolve. Marketing now is viewed as a socially constructed enterprise. Thus, what is needed are inputs from the humanistic modes of inquiry developed specifically to address socially constructed phenomena. The author discusses three central aspects of humanistic inquiry, (1) the philosophy and metaphysic of humanism, (2) the methodology of humanistic research, and (3) the criteria appropriate for evaluating studies conducted in the humanistic mode. Humanistic inquiry is compared specifically with the positivist approach currently used by most marketing researchers. Guidelines are provided to assist researchers who may wish to implement the humanistic approach in their own research programs.