Theoretical Concerns Of Reflexivity And Subjectivity

WHAT IMPACT HAS THE RELATIONAL APPROACH, AS DESCRIBED IN ‘BEYOND EMPATHY’ AND MEARNS AND COOPER’S ‘WORKING AT RELATIONAL DEPTH’, HAD ON YOUR CLIENT WORK. ILLUSTRATE YOUR ANSWER WITH REFERENCE TO A SINGLE SESSION WITH A CLIENT.

Power point slide Qualitative research is a difficult term to define…. Nevertheless, it is important to be familiar with some definitions in the field. The definition provided by Creswell 2009 is enlightening because it incorporates ……….. most important part of definition for me were reports detailed views of informants and natural setting.

‘Employing a qualitative methodology, underpinned by a constructivist world view, has provided the means to generate rich, deep and contextualised understandings of the research issue, and an appreciation of the socially constructed and experienced realities of the participants.’ (Highfield 2012)

My positionality is composed both of cultural aspects and personal lived experiences that engender me towards certain perspectives (Holmes, 2014), thus introducing subjectivity in my research. As such, I must understand where my positionality is derived from to ensure that my research remains as “truthful” as possible (Holmes, 20014). I must remain self-conscious about my own views and positions and how they may influence my design, execution and interpretation of the research data findings (Greenback, 2003). Understanding my own positionality further guides me to remain cognizant of it while practicing and sustaining reflexivity throughout my research. Berger (2013) remarks it as a means of acknowledging my own subjectivity,

Qualitative research reflects different ways that researcher’s collect data and explore all of the information through literature review. Participant’s that are reviewing is often observed for analysis while “the role of the researcher focuses as the primary data collection instrument necessitates the identification of personal values, assumptions and biases at the outset of the study; Qualitative researchers ask at least one central question” (Creswell, 2014, which can be explored in several contexts with further questions. According to the text Research Design (2014) “the researcher’s role is typically involved in a

Ethnographic research requires extensive work, which involves a long period of time and a certain level of intimacy with members which can only be achieved over time and becoming active participants (Polit & Beck, 2017). Although the study didn't specify the length of the study, the range of 3 different locations across primary, secondary and community care reflected the extensiveness of the study. The study was a non-participant observation, utilizing in-depth interviews with key informants. As researchers conduct interviews, it is important to realize the concept of researcher as instrument, wherein the interviewer may impact respondent responses (Polit & Beck, 2017). This can potentially introduce bias wherein researchers can influence the participants with the way how the interview questions were asked. Researchers should ensure reflexibility when interpreting data to prevent bias in qualitative research. Reflexivity is an important tool for researchers to reflect on their personal values and biases that could affect interpretation (Polit & Beck,

Maxwell (2005) also notes that qualitative research can be used to address various issues and is not restricted to one ontological stance. The method also involves developing a relationship with the people one is studying, an aspect that is important in defining the authenticity of the data and determining the course of action.

Research methodology and methodological approaches that is, the structured process of conducting research and the overall concepts and theories which underpin research respectively (Bryman, 2008), occupy a central position in the research process as they are both shaped by and translate the researcher’s epistemological position. Epistemology then refers to a researcher’s philosophical stance about the nature, derivation and scope of knowledge (Gilbert, 2008). These positions are seldom ‘spelt out’ but rather understood in the matter of research methodology and approach (Sarantakos, 2005).

Epistemological criticism argues that all approaches are unlikely to produce consistent evidence because of the inherent property. It will generate a new viewpoint. However, through abundant reading, triangulation will enlarge width and depth in qualitative research and provide an analysis with security- a overall perspective. Participants can improve the validity of research. Bloor (1978) argues that sociologists can establish a correspondence with participants, in which participants can identify, give assent and judgement to sociologists.

Qualitative approach to Critical Discourse Analysis requires the acknowledgement of biases, assumptions and personality that may interfere with the research. Critical Discourse Analysis does not require the researcher to interpret the participant’s experience. Critical Discourse Analysis required the researcher to interpret data by having links or share pattern between the items under research. Reflexivity is design to prevent the research from manipulating the data to agree with is his or her preconceived notions. The four type of Reflexivity are Personal, interpersonal, methodological and contextual (Creswell, & Creswell’ 2007) Personal reflexivity is the acknowledgment of the researcher feelings about the subject. Interpersonal reflexivity is the relationship the researcher shared with the research. Methodological reflexivity is the ability to accept the outcome

There are a lot of differences between the two perspectives; however something they both have in common is reflexivity, the researcher’s willingness to put themselves in the picture of knowledge production. In the phenomenological perspective this is noted unambiguously as a desirable part of the method and is unequivocal about the way in which the approach is appropriate

Qualitative research is conducted in a natural setting and attempts to understand a human problem by developing a holistic narrative and reporting detailed views of informants about the culture of a problem. It forms a report with pictures and words. One of the most important distinctions that sets qualitative research apart from more traditional types of research is that qualitative research is holistic in that researchers study phenomena in their entirety rather than narrowing the focus to specific defined variables” (p. 93). Similarly, Cresswell (1984) indicated that qualitative research “is defined as an inquiry process of understanding a social or human problem, based on building a holistic picture, formed with words, reporting detailed views of informants, and conducted in a natural setting” (p. 2). Cresswell’s definition clearly delineates the major characteristics of qualitative research. Pg. 50 (Smith & Davis, 2010).

This study did not all unfold in the field. For continuation of the interviews they were asked questions through face to face or telephone calls depending on the participant’s convenience. This method still allowed the researcher to capitalize on any new or early understanding. It gives the researcher flexibility in asking questions to continue on the path that the participants take them in. The research does not show any evidence of reflexivity. The contact number was adequate to understand the phenomena.

Creswell (2013) contends that “we need to identify our approach to qualitative inquiry in order to present it as a sophisticated study, to offer it as a specific type so that reviewers can properly assess it, and…to offer some way of organizing ideas that can be grounded in the scholarly literature of qualitative research” (p. 69). Although I believe all three arguments cited by the author are important, this week’s readings and discussion emphasized the third reason in particular. Indeed, reviewing the five approaches provided me with ideas regarding how to investigate and explore the topic. Although I am still struggling with some of the details and aspects, a rough framework is

During the course of the last eight weeks, our class has investigated the nature and approaches of qualitative research. Through individual study and group collaboration, we have navigated a deep topic of engagement that has shaped my perspective of future research and inquiry. Through this process I have discovered the importance of collaboration; the relationship between one’s biases, frameworks, and methodology; the importance of credibility and validity, and the nature in which one’s collaborative approach serves the investigation of the research question. Let us first examine the significance of collaboration as learned in this course.