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Positionality in Educational Research (For Education Doctoral Researchers only)

In this session we will build on your research proposal and begin to explore issues of positionality and reflexivity in educational research.  We will deal with some very difficult questions about how you see yourself, how research participants might perceive you and how might your multiple identities  inform your research.  We will also explore insider/outsider issues, access and power in the research process.

Follow-up readings

  1. Al-Makhamreh Suleiman Sahar and Lewando-Hundt, G. (2008). Researching ‘at Home’ as an Insider/Outsider, Gender and Culture in an Ethnographic Study of Social Work Practice in an Arab Society, Qualitative Social Work, 9(1) pp. 9-23.
  2. Louis, Kathleen & Calabrese Barton, Angela (2002). Tales from the Science Education Crypt: A Critical Reflection of Positionality, Subjectivity, and Reflexivity in Research [40 paragraphs]. Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung / Forum: Qualitative Social Research, 3(3), Art. 19, http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs0203196.
  3. Tsouroufli, M. (2012). ‘Breaking in and breaking out a Medical School: Feminist Academic Interrupted’, Special Issue on ‘Being a Feminist Academic’ Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Journal, 13(5). pp. 467-483.
The management of the Brunel Researcher Development Programme is being moved to the new lifelong skills and career development platform Inkpath to enhance your ability to plan and manage your professional development.  

 If you haven't already registered with Inkpath, you can:

You can find more details about this event and book your place on the Inkpath platform.

Aimed at

Department of Education Doctoral Researchers only

Presented by

Prof. Maria Tsouroufli and Dr Gwen Ineson

Key learning outcomes

  • Understanding Positionality
  • Using Reflexivity in Qualitative Research
  • Who are you? Exploring assumptions and producing honest research accounts

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