3.7.3. Reflexivity
Reflexivity refers to how a researcher and their own inter-subjectivity can shape and even transform their chosen research (Mauthner & Doucet, 2003). Thus reflexivity is intrinsically linked to the 'trustworthiness ' of research itself (Mauthner & Doucet, 2003). Furthermore the notion of reflexivity is also linked to the social constructionism in that it account for the researchers own role in co-constructing the knowledge garnered through their research. To contribute to the trustworthiness of one 's research or study the researcher needs to acknowledge their own internal thought processes, preconceptions, etc (elements of own their subjectivity) and how they may have affected the outcome of their research project (Mauthner
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The perceptions that participants hold in regards to the structure of the relationship between the researcher and themselves has been a noted factor which can affect the accuracy, validity and trustworthiness of one 's research (Mauthner & Doucet, 2003). For should participants find this relationship unsatisfactory it can negatively impact their willingness to discuss certain topics such as substance use. As such I felt it incredibly important that I made every attempt to promote and equality in the researcher participants power relationship. For instance I made a conscious attempt not to dress to smartly or to have a demeanour of dominance so as to combat any possible perception that I am an authoritarian figure. Furthermore at the start of every interview session I provided participants with an overview of both my research aims and of my own subjective background so as to promote a sense of understanding and camaraderie between myself and participants in generating the collected data. I also stressed that my primary concern in conducting the interview sessions is the comfort of my participants and as such noted that participants may opt-out at any time during the research process and provided them with means for psychological aid should they feel at any point they should require it. Also when coming to the close of each session I made sure to ask participants if there was anything they felt I left out or didn 't touch on as much as they would have liked so as to promote their role as co-producers of the data generation
The participants were invited to a university building made aware of the 20-minute videotaping was to be recorded of a communication situation. They were then introduced for the first time by their first name when entering the observation room. The participants were free to choose a topic for their discussion provided it was about something serious and personal. The dyads were in the room by themselves for the first time being aware of the pre-installed camera pointing in the direction of their chairs. After their 20 minutes on camera there would be a knock on the door to end the session. Once the recording had been finished, the participants filled in a questionnaire to check on the legitimacy of the arrangements and to cover the participant’s subjective outlook of the situation before the purpose of the study was disclosed to them. They were guaranteed the tapes would stay confidential and the statistics used they will not be recognized also they can withdraw the consent to use their data at any time. At this time any question was answered as openly as the participants demanded before they were asked to give consent for their videotape to be used in the
Reflexology is a safe and natural drug free modality that has been practiced in many cultures for centuries. It is a unique form of bodywork that enables the body to activate its own healing potential. Reflexology is an alternative and complementary medicine based on the principle that reflexes in the feet, hands and ears correspond to a mapped system of the organs or glands in the body. The official definition of Reflexology states that, “reflexology is a protocol of manual techniques, such as thumb and finger-walking, hook and backup and rotating-on-a-point, applied to specific reflex areas predominantly on the feet and hands. These techniques stimulate the complex neural pathways linking body systems, supporting the body’s efforts to function
My sixteen week class in English 111. I was really nervous about this class. Because English has never been my strong point. This class has hard, but fun all at the same time. I learn a lot from this class. Meanwhile,the first day of class you handed a paper with a question on it. “The first thing I want to say to you who are students is that you must not think of being here to receive an education; instead, you will do much better to think of being here to claim one.” Even though putting my all in what I have learned, claiming my education with hard work because using the skills of the meal plan, as we write to different audiences and learning to be a Critically thinker as I start becoming a critically-Literate Citizenship.
Reflexivity is a qualitative method of research that takes an ethnography one step further, displaying the personal thoughts and reflections of the anthropologist on his informants. Ethnographies generally take an outside or foreign perspective of a culture, like reading a text, and reflexivity introduces a new component of inside description. Here, the anthropologist may describe personal interactions and experiences with natives and use this inside information to make additional conclusions about the people being studied. The ethnographer may also reflect on his ethnic connections with his informants, or his acceptance into the society, explaining that it provides valuable, inside knowledge of the culture and ultimately leads to a greater understanding of the native people as a whole.
In Gang Leader for a Day Venkatesh started his relationship with J.T. by purchasing a pack of beers and visiting building 4040 to initiate a mutual ground that he was not part of a gang and he only wanted information for his paper. It was important for Venkatesh to create a boundary that allowed J.T. to trust him, “Being sensitive to the hierarchy or organisational structure: particularly getting clearance from senior people who are 'gatekeepers '” (Lewis, F. pg. 62) is a crucial part of starting a research paper with participants; especially considering the content Venkatesh is using, having a mutual ground with J.T. was beneficial for him and his findings. Lastly, ending the relationship is a significant part of an effective qualitative research design. Sudhir and J.T.’s final words was an awkward and bittersweet feeling for both individuals. They did not end their relationship being friends, nor strangers, but as two people who had history together. Even though it was difficult for J.T. to let Venkatesh leave Chicago and pursue other notions, Venkatesh never forgot J.T. and what he taught him. This illustrates a close and honest relationship he created and established along his research study. Any researcher would criticize the relationship Sudhir Venkatesh and J.T. had and would claim it as unnatural and should have remained businesslike, although that is true, I feel that J.T. felt important and needed for the first time in his life, opposed to being a pawn in an underground economy. Maintaining a work relationship with participants is vital for the researcher’s safety during and after the research has been conducted, researchers should not involve their feelings or themselves to participants to prevent any form of
According to Robert M. Emerson and colleagues, reflexivity is a method in which the ethnographer is aware that his/her writing choices are shaped to acknowledge the ethnographers presence in the culture being studied. Thus, while writing and analyzing fieldnotes, the ethnographer-as-author grows increasingly aware of his role and responsibility in telling the story of the people being he/[she] studied; for in writing he/[she] re-presents their everyday world[1]. By taking the ethnographers presence in consideration, the ethnography becomes more than a mere piece of text. In the process of writing his/her analyzes of a culture, the ethnographer is constantly reminded that his work is to understand a realm of reality. In the following I will discuss the approach Dorinne K. Kondo and Renato Rosaldo use in writing their reflective ethnography.
Richards and Schwartz (2002) listed four potential risks to research participants in qualitative studies. These are
The purpose of research interviews is to explore the views, beliefs, and motives of individuals on a specific matter for example factors that influence their daily life. They also provide a clear understanding of social issues and an insight that is required from the participant (British dental journal, 2008).The many types of research interview in qualitative research namely are the structured, semi-structured, unstructured and in-depth interview. I will explain them further since they can be used to explore
The role of reflexivity in ethnographic research and writing has certain advantages and limits, as it gives the discipline of anthropology another form of interpreting ethnographies. Reflexivity, in terms of work of anthropology, is to insist that anthropologists systematically and rigorously reveal their methodology and themselves as the instrument of data generation. It is the self-consciousness or the work's ability to see itself as a work. There are various styles of reflexivity in ethnographic writing and Dorinne Kondo, Renato Rosaldo, and George Marcus are three anthropologists that influenced the role of reflexivity through their ethnographies.
Discussions from social research argue over or try to maintain a sense of equilibrium while answering and discussing the questions of "objectivity" and "neutrality" vs. "bias" and "subjectivity." While reading, "So what do you want from us here?" by Barbara Myerhoff, "Getting In" by Ruth Horowitz, and "Jelly’s Place" by Elijah Anderson I focused on the questions of "objectivity" vs. "subjectivity." Using the authors field research I found that the authors found specific approaches that affected their data whether it was interacting and forming relationships with the community members or just observing what roles or social order occur in society. There were many positive and negative research methods and approaches used by some and others had better access to data and received more insight from other outside sources.
L. (2012). They would point to the fact that the students were able to acknowledge the power shift, through their agency in their environment through their part in the counseling interventions. Although the power dynamics were evident in this quote, the keywords that a participatory researcher would focus on are ‘co-researchers and change their own environment’ the participatory researcher would point to the fact that the reason that the students felt so empowered was because there were part of the process, being referred to as ‘co researchers’ and provided with the information and the platform to impact change on an issue they chose that was important to them and their
They were then introduced for the first time by their first name when entering the observation room. The participants were free to choose a topic for their discussion provided it was about something serious and personal. The dyads were in the room by themselves for the first time being aware of the pre-installed camera pointing in the direction of their chairs. After their 20 minutes on camera there would be a knock on the door to end the session. Once the recording had been finished, the participants filled in a questionnaire to check on the legitimacy of the arrangements and to cover the participant’s subjective outlook of the situation before the purpose of the study was disclosed to them. They were guaranteed the tapes would stay confidential and the statistics used they will not be recognized also they can withdraw the consent to use their data at any time. At this time any question was answered as openly as the participants demanded before they were asked to give consent for their videotape to be used in the
Research philosophy, refers to the development of knowledge adopted by the researchers in their research (Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, 2009). In other words, it is the theory that used to direct the researcher for conducting the procedure of research design, research strategy, questionnaire design and sampling (Malhotra, 2009). It is very important to have a clear understanding of the research philosophy so that we could examine the assumptions about the way we view the world, which are contained in the research philosophy we choose, knowing that whether they are appropriate or not (Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, 2009). According to Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill (2009), three major ways of thinking about research philosophy are examined: ontology, epistemology and axiology. Each of them carries significant differences which will have an impact on the way we consider the research procedures. Ontology, “is concerned with nature of reality”, while epistemology “concerns what constitutes acceptable knowledge in a field of study and axiology “studies judgements about value” (Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, 2009, p110, p112, p116). This study is intent on creating some “facts” from objective evaluations which are made by the subjects. Therefore, epistemology will be chosen for this study as the way of thinking about the research philosophy.
Qualitative research was designed as a way to be directly connected with the subjects researched. Participant researchers may choose to merely observe and collect data or to be an active participant. Covert participation has the advantage of reducing the “reactive effects” of the social setting or group (Bachman & Schutt, 2012). Most researchers who use the participation method of research will often strike a balance between participation and observation. Through participation, an observer may gain the trust of the research subjects which can provide more fruitful results. Some research may however be unethical or a violation of law. A good researcher should use prudence beforehand when crafting their research design.
The lesson this week starts off reminding us that the Beatitudes build verse upon verse, each verse in the order that they are written.