Abstract for presentation: Verbatim quotations in reports from applied social research

Including verbatim quotations from research participants has become effectively standard practice in much reporting of qualitative applied social research. Until recently, it has been hard to find in methods texts clear arguments for the theoretical underpinning of this approach. Quotations appear to be used in different ways, for various purposes. Little is known about their impact on readers; the views of those who spoke the words are seldom sought.