Positionality & Reflexivity: What’s What?
Hello Qualitative Mind,
I joined the Community-University Partnership at the University of Alberta as a part-time project coordinator in June 2021, and ever since my position started I’ve had the opportunity to attend a couple of invaluable webinars and round tables about EDI (Equity Diversity and Inclusion) in research and workplaces. I’ve learned many things, recorded many notes and, above all, realized once more the value of reflexivity in our academic activities.
This blog post, first written in October of 2020, introduced and differentiated two concepts: reflexivity and positionality in qualitative research. I highly value them in the context of rigorous qualitative research and now also see them as vital to ensuring EDI in academic (and non-academic) careers, research projects and personal growth.
Back in 2020, a reader, friend and past blog guest writer, Alexa Ferdinands, asked me to comment on the difference between one’s positionality in research and reflexivity because she had a hard time knowing what is what. I think her confusion about the division between those two things is natural because positionality and reflexivity overlap and affect one another. Still, I do see them as two different things, and I will try to explain each as I understand them.
Researcher’s positionalities are tightly linked to our worldviews. It’s not static because we’re always experiencing new things, learning and evolving. Yet, our positionality doesn’t just change every so often. It takes time to be transformed by life events and to understand our personal transformation. When we examine our positionality, we need to ask ourselves, “Who am I? What am I experiencing in the course of my research, my practice, or my academic career? How did the facts or events of my life shape my perceptions and ideas about my research?”
Personally, I did not write my positionality until very late in my PhD program. It happened when one of my PhD examiners asked me about having children during my PhD while also working with pregnant and postpartum women. In the end, it was something that I wish I had done long before because it made me reflect on the moments throughout my PhD program that really defined how I perceived my research, how I interacted with my participants, and how I moved forward as a person and as a researcher.
How about reflexivity? When does it come into practice? What I just told you was basically that having my positionality in research clearly written earlier could have helped me to be more reflexive and critical during my research. By being reflexive, we become attentive to interpretations and decision making along the research process. We become attuned to our thoughts, feelings and what is creating them. To me, reflexivity is a more fluid and recurrent practice. I agree with Karen Lumdsen (2019) who says that reflexivity “is not merely a quality of the researcher, but is a practice which must be honed, applied, and kept in mind throughout the research process.”
“Reflective processes are deliberate awareness, involving a contemplative stance and intentional activity, which is aimed at recognizing differentness and generating knowledge. It involves the constant movement between being in the phenomenon and stepping outside of it…””
Reflexivity is not only important because it is transformative and enlightening. It’s also closely connected to the researcher’s positionality which, to some degree, informs every step of the research process. I’m a strong proponent of embracing the practice of reflexivity to establish rigor in a qualitative study, and having a written positionality in research will enrich your reflexivity. I did receive guidance when I wrote my positionality in research, and based on that I created a PDF download that will help you write yours. You can download the “Your Positionality in Research” workbook for FREE here. This workbook is one of many resources offered inside of Quali Q’s signature course, Qualitative Research Blueprint.
I mentioned that I’ve taken on more responsibilities this year with one-on-one consulting projects, as well as coaching and mentoring. The other thing that has happened in 2021, and became official last Friday, is my appointment as an Adjunct Professor with the Department of Agricultural, Food & Nutritional Science at the University of Alberta. I don’t know what the position will entail over the years but one thing that is arranged for January 2022 is my first teaching commitment post PhD with an academic institution!
With all of these changes, Quali Q looks a bit different than it has in the past. Moving forward, our signature course, Qualitative Research Blueprint (QRB) will be offered as a self-study course! You can now access all of the video lessons, resources and information QRB has to offer while working at your own pace.
Despite all of the changes this year has brought both for me personally and for Quali Q, I look forward to keeping in touch with you all and continuing to support your learning as we learn, grow, and, maybe, pivot together in 2022!
Talk soon,
Maira
*This blog post was written on October 27, 2020 and was updated and re-published on December 7, 2021.