Overview

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.

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Table of Contents

Reviews

Research Methodologies in Literary Reception Studies is a timely contribution that fills a clear gap by offering a systematic and methodologically explicit overview of approaches to literary reception research. Its organisation into four complementary methodological clusters, combined with a strong interdisciplinary scope, makes it both conceptually coherent and highly accessible to researchers at different career stages. The volume stands out for its balanced integration of qualitative, quantitative, and digital methods, and for its consistent critical reflection on methodological affordances, limitations, and combinations. It will serve as an indispensable resource for both research and teaching, stimulating further methodological awareness and innovation in literary reception studies. - Jack McMartin, KU Leuven Research Methods in Literary Reception Studies offers a thorough overview of the field. Its extensive range and focus on detail are unparallelled, setting new standards for teaching and research in methodology. This will be the go-to book for students and researchers interested in literary reception studies for years to come. - Ingo Berensmeyer, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

Author Information

Jeroen Dera is Associate Professor of Dutch Literature at Radboud University. Anne Oerlemans works as a publisher and obtained her PhD from Radboud University in 2026. Frederik Van Dam is Assistant Professor of European Literature at Radboud University.

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