Researcher Positionality: Ways to Include it in a Qualitative Research Design
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: In qualitative research approaches, it is recommended if investigators could highlight their position. Positionality gives the research a background of where the researcher stands in relation to other factors. In the social science disciplines, if one is doing a higher degree research, there should be a section that clarifies the researcher positionality. Making these declarations gives the study clarity and credibility in that the researcher is aware of how they fit in their ‘insider and outsider hat’ so to say. This paper discusses ways in which Masters, Doctor of Education, Doctor of Social Work, Doctor of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, and PhD scholars can explain positionality in their research design. The author provides examples from his PhD thesis which looked at academic English writing skills of first-year undergraduate students. The examples will be helpful to novice researchers and post-graduate students interested in providing precision in conducting qualitative methodology and examining positionality in their study. Early career researchers moving away from other designs and higher degree research supervisors will benefit from the discussions in this paper as well.
Author: Prashneel Ravisan Goundar
Institutions: University of New England, University of New England
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,650
OpenAlex ID: W4407556553