CITATION AND COPYRIGHT INFORMATION:
Cite as: Dervin, B. (1992). From the mind’s eye of the user: The Sense-Making qualitative-quantitative methodology. In J. D. Glazier & R. R. Powell (Eds.), Qualitative research in information management (pp. 61-84). Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited. Reprinted in: B. Dervin & L. Foreman-Wernet (with E. Lauterbach) (Eds.). (2003). Sense-Making Methodology reader: Selected writings of Brenda Dervin (pp. 269-292). Cresskill, NJ: Hampton Press.
© Hampton Press and Brenda Dervin (2003), reprinted by permission of Jack D. Glazier (1992).

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ABSTRACT:
This chapter provides a summary description of the Sense-Making Methodology (still called in 1991 an “approach”). Sense-Making Methodology is described as having been in development since 1972 as a programmatic research effort specifically focused on developing alternative approaches to study human use of communication and information systems. The paper reviews the underlying assumptions and theoretic foundations of the methodology as of 1991. This is followed by a description of the methodology and its derivative methods. A third section presents exemplars of how the approach has been used in several different studies of users and potential users of information systems. The final section positions the approach in the context of current debates in the social sciences and specifically in terms of the qualitative-versus-quantitative research distinction.

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See:  http://communication.sbs.ohio-state.edu/sense-making/AAauthors/authorlistdervin.html