Researcher Positionality – A Consideration of Its Influence and Place in Qualitative Research – A New Researcher Guide
This journal article from the International Journal of Education explores researcher positionality and its role in the research process. Graduate students are often required to identify and communicate their positionalities—a person’s worldview and the position they adopt within a research study—in their own works. The article emphasizes the importance of reflexivity, in which researchers acknowledge and understand their own biases. It helps guide researchers on how they can identify their own positionality with three steps: identifying personal positions that can influence research, considering how they and the participants may view the researcher themselves, and acknowledging that research will be influenced by themselves and research contexts. This article provides valuable insights for faculty members and educators who are seeking guidance on crafting strong positionality statements or aiming to better understand their presence and impact within educational spaces.