Doing Research in the Caribbean Introduction to Caribbean Studies - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Doing Research in the Caribbean

Introduction to Caribbean Studies

Stacey Mac Donald & Sanne Rotmeijer PhD Candidates, KITLV

This afternoon…

• Introducing ‘Confronting Caribbean Challenges’ research project
• Key notions > Reflexivity & Positionality
• Positioning in practice > Impact different positions on research
• Discussion on reflexivity and positionality in the Caribbean

Confronting Caribbean Challenges project

Website: www.kitlv.nl/research-projects-confronting-caribbean-challenges Facebook: www.facebook.com/ConfrontingCaribbeanChallenges

Nature Conservation & Cultural Heritage

Stacey Mac Donald - Bonaire, Saba, St. Eustatius

News Media & National Identities

Sanne Rotmeijer – Curaçao, St. Maarten

Question: How would you introduce yourself as a researcher in the Caribbean?

(in key words)

Reflexivity & Positionality (1)

Reflexivity is key notion in qualitative research

• Your own research instrument
• Enhances quality of research

“[Reflexivity is] the process of a continual internal dialogue and critical self-evaluation of researcher’s positionality as well as (…) explicit recognition that this position may affect the research process and outcome”.

Berger, R. (2015). Now I see it, now I don’t: researcher’s position and reflexivity in qualitative research. Qualitative research, 15, 219 – 234.

Reflexivity & Positionality (2)

• Reflexivity works on two levels:

1) Being self-reflexive about your own position-in-relation-to-others; 2) Being critically reflexive about institutional practices, policies, social structures, and knowledge bases.

Cunliffe, A. L. (2016). “On Becoming a Critically Reflexive Practitioner” Redux: What Does It Mean to Be Reflexive?. Journal of Management Education, 40(6), 740-746.

Positionality in context – KITLV & NL

KITLV / NWO research funding // Relationship NL - Dutch Caribbean

Positioning in Practice: What to consider?

Gender Affiliation Race (skin color) Age Sexual

• rientation

Immigration status Personal experiences Language Beliefs (religion) Biases Preferences Political and ideological stances Emotional responses to participant

Berger, R. (2015). Now I see it, now I don’t: researcher’s position and reflexivity in qualitative research. Qualitative research, 15, 219 – 234.

Personal relationship w/ people (of the island)

Positioning in Practice: In relation to…(each)other.

• Reflexivity on position-in-relation-to-others:
• You (are) shape(d) (by) others.
• Your presence affects.

Ongoing process: Your presence shapes others, who shape you, who are shaped by others, who are shaped by you… etc.

Positioning in Practice: Ongoing process.

• Impacts all phases of the research process:
• a. Prior– access to the field, recruitment of participants
• b. During– collecting data via Interviews and/or observations
• c. After – analyzing data, drawing conclusions
• Back to the field: always a starting point.

Prior

• Easier access
• Trust and cooperation
• Head start topic knowledge
• Familiarity culture
• Language understanding

Insider Outsider

Asset Risk

• Openness
• Less personal
• Blind spots
• Too personal
• Difficult access
• Less trust and cooperation
• Backlog topic knowledge
• Unfamiliarity culture
• Language misunderstanding

Berger, R. (2015). Now I see it, now I don’t: researcher’s position and reflexivity in qualitative research. Qualitative research, 15, 219 – 234.

During

• Cultural intuition & insights
• Less distance
• Language & expressions

Insider Outsider

Asset Risk

• Relationships based on

respect, validation & empowerment

• Anonymity
• Participants sharing more

information

• Imposing values, beliefs &

perceptions

• Projection of biases
• Participants withholding

information

• Missing clues & subtleties
• Distance
• Less comprehension

Berger, R. (2015). Now I see it, now I don’t: researcher’s position and reflexivity in qualitative research. Qualitative research, 15, 219 – 234.

After

• Sensitive to nuances: hear

the unsaid

• Understanding

Insider Outsider

Asset Risk

• Innovative directions
• More diligent
• Deliberate effort to

understand

• Deafness to other voices
• Blurred boundaries
• Maintain separation
• Indifferent to nuances
• Emotional misunderstanding

(ignore, judge, or over- empathize)

Berger, R. (2015). Now I see it, now I don’t: researcher’s position and reflexivity in qualitative research. Qualitative research, 15, 219 – 234.

So… who is the black sheep?

Discussion & Questions

Stacey Mac Donald | macdonald@kitlv.nl Sanne Rotmeijer | rotmeijer@kitlv.nl