Sense-making methodology: Implications for research process

In this paper, Dervin’s sense-making methodology as one of the well-known theories in communication science is introduced and its implications for humanities research process is discussed. Sensemaking is the process of constructing mental framework out of encountered situations in such a way that guides behaviors and makes them meaningful. Despite the diversity of theoretical domains, existing sensemaking models consider sensemaking an essential component of human actions, especially in expertise-oriented fields. Dervin’s sense-making methodology is one of the two frontiers in this area. This metatheory includes a set of philosophical assumptions about human nature and the essence of human communication, and it presents a methodology based on those assumptions. Sense-making methodology has a critical approach to conventional research methods in human sciences and strives for maintaining advantages of both qualitative and quantitative methodologies by focusing on the complexity of human communication; nevertheless, it takes steps toward establishing communication axioms, which result in a very flexible methodology that could be utilized in a variety of human sciences. In the current paper, Dervin’s sense-making methodology is elaborated both in metatheoretical and methodological levels; then, some of the studies employing this methodology are mentioned. Finally, its epistemological approach to humanities studies is discussed.