Research Methods in Literary Reception Studies

Turning reading into research: Researching literature through its reception.

• First methods-focused handbook in the field
• Strongly practical and suitable for advanced teaching
• Bridging qualitative and quantitative research
• For advanced students and early-career researchers

Research Methods in Literary Reception Studies is the first handbook to offer a systematic, hands-on guide to the study of literary reception. It shows how scholars can examine readers’ responses to literature, as well as how texts are evaluated, discussed, rewarded, and circulated across social and institutional settings. By combining empirical, sociological, digital, and text-focused approaches, the book offers clear guidance on research design, data collection, and analysis. Each chapter offers step-by-step methodological instructions and illustrates these through a concrete case study. Integrating qualitative and quantitative approaches, and written for advanced students and researchers, this handbook provides a comprehensive methodological toolbox for studying literature as a cultural practice.