Positionality

Summary of "Negotiating Positions through Reflexivity in International Fieldwork (Noh, 2019)

https://doi.org/10.1177/0020872817725140 .

1. Positionality Overview:

   • Multiplicities of identity explored in relation to each other.

   • Examines positions such as insider or outsider, researcher or student.

2. Reflexivity Concerns:

   • Some worry about reflexivity being too self-focused and used as therapy.

3. Outsider Impact:

   • Outsider status can affect openness, depth of data, and acceptance.

   • Potential consequences include misrepresentation, exploitation, and disempowerment of the researched group.

4. Balancing Insider and Outsider:

   • Importance of being open, honest, and sensitive sometimes outweighs being an insider.

   • Emphasis on using 'endogenous reflexivity' and 'referential reflexivity' to understand mutual influences.

5. Understanding Social Structure:

   • Acknowledges that social structure enables and restricts individuals, but individuals can also contribute to changing it.

6. Positionality Definition:

   • Positionality defined as the relationship between self and environment.

7. Reflexivity Types:

   • Endogenous Reflexivity: Explores how the researcher's experience and preconceptions influence research practices.

   • Referential Reflexivity: Examines how the self is viewed by others and the mutual influence between the researcher and the environment.

8. Insider Status Example:

   • Contextual example: A Korean researcher in Asia might be considered an insider due to shared values as a fellow Asian.