Abstract
Research has been rapidly increasing over the past decades, as has been accompanied by evolution of research methodologies. The world and societies are diverse and can be intersected across various factors. To gain deep insight to the research it is crucial that the researcher’s role is that which is without bias or prejudice, and furthermore, interpretations align to the data collection and meaning. On the other end of the spectrum, researchers themselves come with preconditions, their identities, backgrounds and experiences (including and not limited to cultural, racial, educational and ability) which are inbuilt and cannot always be separated from the research. The Researcher’s role remains pivotal to the research process and therefore, any preconditions can help or hinder - in other words impact outcomes of the research. This raises questions to the positionality of the researcher in the research. With its underpinning in reflexivity and standpoint theory, this paper sets out to explore the researcher’s positionality in relation to insider – outsider dynamics in the research process. This research contributes to the ongoing discourse of research methodologies. The study uses four academics and one higher education practitioner in order to draw out insider outsider dynamics from their positionality using reflective methodology. Research has been rapidly increasing over the past decades, as has been accompanied by evolution of research methodologies. The world and societies are diverse and can be intersected across various factors. To gain deep insight to the research it is crucial that the researcher’s role is that which is without bias or prejudice, and furthermore, interpretations align to the data collection and meaning. On the other end of the spectrum, researchers themselves come with preconditions, their identities, backgrounds and experiences (including and not limited to cultural, racial, educational and ability) which are inbuilt and cannot always be separated from the research. The Researcher’s role remains pivotal to the research process and therefore, any preconditions can help or hinder - in other words impact outcomes of the research. This raises questions to the positionality of the researcher in the research. With its underpinning in reflexivity and standpoint theory, this paper sets out to explore the researcher’s positionality in relation to insider – outsider dynamics in the research process. This research contributes to the ongoing discourse of research methodologies. The study uses four academics and one higher education practitioner in order to draw out insider outsider dynamics from their positionality using