Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/14560
Title: Insider research: it’s all about me?
Authors: Chappell, A
Issue Date: 2016
Publisher: British Sociological Association (BSA)
Citation: Proceedings of British Sociological Association Auto/Biography Study Group Conference, Wolfson College, Oxford, 15 - 17 July, (2016)
Abstract: The importance of the place of the researcher is widely acknowledged and there is work which examines the implications for research undertaken by an ‘insider’ (Rogers, 2003; Sikes and Potts, 2008; Perryman, 2011; Letherby and Scott, 2013). The literature often focuses on ethical issues such as access; relationships; trust; empathy; and also on shared knowledge and understanding between the researcher and participants. This paper will explore the significance and impact of the motivation and evolving feelings of the ‘insider’ researcher, through reflections on my own research experience. The doctoral process was very challenging and I felt surprise at my levels of resilience and commitment to completing the research. I reflected on many occasions during the process what it was that sustained me, but was never able to provide myself with a ‘satisfactory’ explanation. It is only recently, when undertaking further work in this area with newly qualified teachers, that I have started to gain insight into this ‘personal trouble’ (Mills, 1959). The insight has come as a result of unexpected emotional responses during the research process. I have come to understand through reflection that these feelings relate to my motivation for the research and its development over time. Through this particular case, I will consider the implications of researchers using their feelings as a basis for reflection in order to develop an enhanced understanding of their motivation and use this to the benefit of their research.
URI: http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/14560
Appears in Collections:Dept of Education Research Papers

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