Toward multi-dimensional and developmental notion of researcher positionality

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to argue for a multi-dimensional and developmental notion of researcher positionality in conducting qualitative research, in lieu of the dichotomous notion of outsider and insider. The former emphasizes the agentive role researchers play in knowledge production, whereas the latter has been much challenged as oversimplified and insufficient in understanding the dynamic interactions in which field researchers engage. Design/methodology/approach The paper borrows Milner’s (2007) four-level framework of research personality to reflect on one cross-cultural narrative inquiry study. Findings Reflective stories revealed that researcher positionality captures threads of intersectionality as well as inter- and intra-personal dynamics, and thus better informs the research process than what concept of insider/outsider dichotomy can do. Research limitations/implications The paper enriches the discussion of research positionality in qualitative research by involving a cross-cultural study where the researcher moved to-and-fro two sites. Practical implications The paper suggests a methodological and practical way of raising researcher’s awareness and agency relative to positionality by exposing the researcher to cross-cultural settings. Originality/value While the multi-dimensional aspect of researcher positionality and its relatedness to research findings has been much discussed, not much acknowledgment has been given to the developmental aspect of research positionality.

Cultural practices and organizational ethnography: implications for fieldwork and research ethics

“…student, teacher, male, female and immigrant). They shape how we perceive the world at one point in time, how we act and behave and how we interact with others (Berger, 2015;Herrmann et al, 2013;Lu and Hodge, 2019). Alcoff (1988), one of the early writers who employed this notion, used the positioning of pawns on the chessboard to illustrate the influence of the context on the positioning of individuals and how this positioning influences how they act.…”

In-betweenness in ICT4D research: critically examining the role of the researcher

“…Other fields have sought to resolve similar challenges through closely reflecting upon the role of the researcher (Cupples & Kindon, 2003;McNess et al, 2015). The researcher's positionality has been debated in anthropology, sociology, geography and more (Lu & Hodge, 2019;Mullings, 1999). In these fields, scholars suggest that the positionality of the researcher influences both how they engage in fieldwork with participants as well as how they interpret their research findings (Mullings, 1999;Sultana, 2007).…”

Experience of Conducting Sensitive Qualitative Research as a Cultural Outsider: Formulation of a Guide for Reflexivity

“…It is also necessary to know the group and the setting, for example, through the literature (Ergun & Erdemir, 2010) or prior engagement with the group (Suwankhong & Liamputtong, 2015). The difficulty in defining insider and outsider status is well recognized (Ergun & Erdemir, 2010;Lu & Hodge, 2019;Merriam et al, 2001). Although cultural insideroutsider dichotomy remains a central discourse in research (Dwyer & Buckle, 2018), there has been a shift from the fixed concept of "insider and outsider" positionality to a fluid nature of the researchers' position, that evolves as they engage with the participants and research setting (Thomas, 2014).…”

“…The positionality of the researcher is more frequently written about in qualitative research than that of the participants. Where the positionality of participants is considered, it is often in terms of similarities or differences between the researcher and the participants based on characteristics such as gender, race, and cultural traits and how these may influence the research process (Lu & Hodge, 2019; Merriam et al, 2001). The participants’ multi-faceted positionality defines how they relate with the researchers and their research and is equally as important to the research process and outcome as the researchers’ positionality.…”