In qualitative research, we’re not just asking what happens—we’re asking how people make sense of what happens, and how we can interpret people’s experience with respect to the broader social context.
To do this well, we need to understand that meaning is not singular. People’s experiences are shaped by multiple, overlapping layers: their own inner world, their immediate social context, and the broader cultural and structural systems that surround them.
These layers form what we can call interconnected systems of meaning—a foundational concept for any qualitative researcher.

What Are Systems of Meaning?
Qualitative research is grounded in the idea that meaning is subjective, contextual, and constructed. People interpret their experiences through:
- Inner experience – their emotions, memories, personal values, and internal reasoning
- Social context – their relationships, institutions, and day-to-day interactions
- Broader social meaning – the societal norms, cultural discourses, and policy structures that shape what’s possible or acceptable
These systems are not separate. They constantly interact. A person’s inner world is influenced by their social environment—and vice versa. Societal discourses can reinforce or disrupt how people view themselves and others. Opening up or shutting down ways of being in the world.
Why this Matters in Research Design
When we design qualitative research, we need to ask: Which system(s) of meaning are we trying to understand?
For example:
- If you’re exploring the experiences of young people navigating climate anxiety, you might consider:
- Inner experiences: feelings of fear, overwhelm, or responsibility
- Social contexts: family beliefs, school climate programs, peer activism
- Broader meanings: dominant media narratives about the future, political rhetoric, generational blame
- In a study of First Nations perspectives on cultural education, you might investigate:
- Inner experiences: personal connection to language and identity
- Social contexts: classroom dynamics, relationships with Elders, access to Country
- Broader meanings: government education policy, colonial legacies, racism in Australia and public discourses on First Nations culture and reconciliation
Each layer reveals something different, allowing us to explore different aspects of the topic of enquiry.
A Reflexive Lens
Being aware of these systems also helps us reflect on our own positionality as researchers. Where do our interests lie? Are we more drawn to the psychological, the relational, or the structural? Are we more drawn to empathetic sense making, or to more critical interpretations. What are we attuned to noticing—and what might we miss?
Importantly, no layer is more “correct” or more “real” than another. They’re all valid. Our task is to be explicit and intentional about the layers we choose to focus on—and to recognise how they intersect.
Not Just Complexity—Clarity
This isn’t about making research harder or more abstract. It’s about doing justice to the complexity of human life. Using a systems-of-meaning lens can sharpen our focus, guide our data collection, and enrich our analysis.
It helps us move from surface-level engagement to deeper insight.
It reminds us that no story is told in isolation.
And it grounds us in what qualitative research does best: understanding people in context.
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