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* Qualitative research is characterized by a heavy dependence on data that are word-based (interviews, observer notes, documents, manuscripts, etc.).
* Humour primarily consists of jokes (spoken or written words) and actions (describable through words) which elicit laughter or generate merriment.
* Humour analysis has inherent attributes that make it similar to typical qualitative research methods.
* Qualitative researchers can apply humour analysis more frequently as an analytical tool to investigate various cultural and social phenomena.
Humour is a universal phenomenon that is exhibited by most cultures. What constitutes humour, under what conditions it is considered acceptable, what are the responses to an instance of attempted humour, and other related questions can shed light on cultural and social beliefs and practices.
Humour primarily consists of jokes (spoken or written words) and actions which elicit laughter or generate mirth (these actions can be described in words) (Critchley, 2002; Ritchie, 2004). Given that qualitative research is characterized by a heavy dependence on data that are wordbased (interviews, observer notes, documents, manuscripts, etc.), this Update posits that humour analysis has potential as an investigative qualitative research tool.
Definitions of Humour and Theories of Humour
There are dozens of different definitions of humour. The following are two representative ones. Crawford (1994: 57) defines humour as any communication that generates a 'positive cognitive or affective response from listeners.' Romero and Cruthirds (2006: 59) define humour as 'amusing communications that produce positive emotions and cognitions in the individual, group, or organization.'Just as with the definition of humour, there is no single universally accepted, allencompassing theory of humour. The following four theories are among the most commonly discussed in the humour literature.
1. The Relief Theory
Cooper (2008) says that the relief theory has its origins in the ideas of Sigmund Freud who believed that the pleasure obtained from a humorous event or utterance originated in the unconscious realms of our mind. The process of humour is a defence mechanism on the part of the ego and the superego to circumvent reality and protect themselves from the emotional consequences of adverse real-life situations. Freud also believed that humour (primarily in the form of jokes) was a means by which people could release their suppressed aggressive and sexual instinctive urges in a...