Lesson 2: The Researchers' Role and Reflexivity

Question 1

What is interpretative research?

Answer 1

Qualitative research.

Question 2

What is qualitative research?

Answer 2

Interpretative research.

Question 3

What is typically involved in a sustained and intensive experience with participants?

Answer 3

Inquirer.

Question 4

What is inquirer?

Answer 4

Something that is typically involved in a sustained and intensive experience with participants.

Question 5

What is reflexivity?

Answer 5

It is an aspect that requires commenting on past experiences and how past experiences shape interpretations.

Question 6

What are the two important points that reflexivity must comment on?

Answer 6

1. Past experiences, and

2. How past experiences shape interpretations

Question 7

What should be remembered on past experiences?

Answer 7

Include statements about past experiences with the research problem or with participants or setting that help the reader understand the connection between the researchers and the study.

Question 8

What should be remembered on past experiences shaping interpretations?

Answer 8

Be explicit, then, about how these experiences may potentially shape the interpretations the researchers make during the study (e.g. the experiences may cause researchers to learn toward certain themes to actively look for evidence to support their positions and to create favorable or unfavorable conclusions about the sites or participants.

Question 9

How can researchers incorporate reflexivity to their research?

Answer 9

1. write notes about your personal experiences during the study
2. notes might include observations about the process of data collection, hunches about what you are learning, and concerns about reactions of participants to the research process
3. ideas can be written as memos – notes written during the research process that reflect on the process or that help shape the development of codes and themes

Question 10

When does sufficient reflexivity occur?

Answer 10

It is something that occurs when:

a. researchers record notes during the process of the research,
b. consider how their personal experiences may shape their interpretation of results,
c. qualitative researchers need to limit their discussions about personal experiences so that they do not deride the importance of the content or methods in a study, and
d. aware of connections between the researcher and the participants or the research sites that may unduly influence the researchers’ interpretations