What is researcher positionality?
This 23-minute video presents three academics’ comments about positionality in research. Increasingly researchers are expected to state their considerations on positionality in their research design and ethical clearance processes. But such reflections should go beyond trite compliance statements to genuinely engage with how who they are as researchers influences what they research, how they research it and how they present the data they collect. While positionality is more frequently grappled with in qualitative research, this video suggests that all forms of research require choices by the researcher, which may be affected by the positions they hold in society as well as ideological positions they may ascribe to.
This video is produced by Rox Chiappa, through conversation with academics, Rethabile Mawela, Sioux McKenna, and Ken Ngcoza; all of Rhodes University
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Who might find this useful?
This video is made for postgraduate scholars and supervisors.