Practicing Qualitative Research Under the “Big Tent”: Origins, Development, and Continuing Relevance of the Eight Big-Tent Framework for Qualitative Quality
Sarah J. TracyDeveloped from a keynote delivered at the 21st Annual International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry (ICQI) in 2025, this article explores the joys and challenges of practicing qualitative research within the “big-tent” framework—an inclusive and evolving space for diverse paradigms, methods, and voices. I reflect on the development and application of the Eight Big-Tent Framework, which I originally designed to help researchers craft rigorous, resonant, and impactful qualitative inquiry. The article discusses the distinction between end goals and the varied practices that support them, addresses common misreadings of the framework, and responds to critiques that have emerged over time. Emphasizing curiosity, collaboration, and accessibility, I advocate for a vision of qualitative research that values both philosophical diversity and methodological coherence. Ultimately, I offer guidance for dwelling well in the Big Tent—encouraging research that is reflexive, service-oriented, and committed to human flourishing.