Researching from the inside: the ‘ use of ‘self’ in reflexive ethnography Jill Riley Cardiff University

An ethnography of a guild of weavers, spinners and dyers The study explores: - textile-making as a multi-faceted form of occupation - how and why people engage in creative textile-making in the context of contemporary British culture and other influential cultures and a technological society - the significance of textile-making and guild membership to individual and collective identity, personal and social well-being Shaping textile-making as an occupational domain: perspectives, contexts and meanings (Riley 2009)

Methodology: Ethnography: Ethnography: offers a way of exploring events as they happen together with what people do in a natural setting or ‘field’, taking into account the socio-cultural context (Tedlock 2000). A constructivist grounded theory approach: Simultaneous data gathering and analysis The construction of theory from shared understandings and experiences (Charmaz 2005, 2006)

Fieldwork context: A Welsh guild of weavers, spinners and dyers: workshops, talks, seminars courses and symposia Locations: Britain & Japan Data gathering: Participant observation Visual methods: still photography In-depth interviewing Material culture Reflexive & methodological memos

A reflexive approach: Using insights about the self to assist in understanding others (Krieger 1985, Smith 2003, Hesse-Biber and Leckenby 2004) through ‘critical and self-conscious awareness’ (Coffey 1999: 32) Reflexivity as a tool: To take account of personal perspectives Consider the consequences of relationships To evaluate the process, methods and outcomes (Okley 1992, Finlay 2002a, Guba and Lincoln 2005)

Roles and selves in the field : Fieldwork starts from where we are (Coffey 1999) Aspects of self: BroughtBrought Research-basedResearch-based Situationally createdSituationally created (Reinharz 1997) Known – familiar and present

Known selves: Active guild member Active guild member Practicing textile-maker Practicing textile-maker Guild representative Guild representative Friend Friend

Issues where the Use of self impacts: Negotiating access Informed consent Relationships Maintaining trust and reciprocity Familiarity Giving voice to participants Ensuring confidentiality Closure

Access: ‘A defining activity of ethnography’ (Harrington 2003: 594) Advantages of insider acceptance: Greater and more instant access Knowing who to contact Focusing negotiations Building on trusting relationships (Adler and Adler 1987, Adler and Adler 1998, Labaree 2002)

Access: A process of constant re-negotiation (Davies 1999, Labaree 2002, Harrington 2003) Concerns: Comfort and familiarity Maintaining openness and transparency Re-balancing different aspects of self

Informed consent: ‘We can underestimate people’s trust in our neutrality….if we appear to be doing no harm’ (Geer 1964: 331) Continual dilemmas: Who to inform Maintaining informed consent

Relationships: Prior friendships require ‘an upfront and clearly stated agenda in order to avoid ambiguity regarding the intent of the insider researcher’ (Labaree 2002: 112)Issues: Taking sides and offering opinions Deferring to members’ expectations (Atkinson et al 2003, Charmaz and Mitchell 1997)

Trust and reciprocity: ‘Good ethnographic practice, data collection and analyses rely upon genuine empathy, trust and participation (Coffey 1999: 47)Issues: Maintaining trusting relationships Sharing and reciprocating

Familiarity: Over familiarity with the field may lead to taken-for-granted assumptions particularly about everyday ordinary activity (Atkinson et al 2003) Issues for an insider researcher: Actively questioning familiarity Attending to detail (Labaree 2002, Atkinson 2004)

Giving voice to participants: Allowing one’s own voice to be heard whilst telling the participants’ story (Halstead 2001, Emerson et al 2001) Issues for the self as an emerging author: developing skills in balanced reporting ensuring authenticity Unravelling shared understandings and differences (Stacey 1988, Halstead 2001, Emerson et al 2001, Finlay 2002b)

Confidentiality: Confidentiality becomes complicated ‘when ethnographers are members of the collectivity they are researching’ (Davies 1999: 189) Dilemmas for the self as a member, researcher and author: Ensuring anonymity Using visual images Writing oneself into the text (Murphy and Dingwall 2001, Banks 2001, Stacey 1988)

Closure: Fading out the researcher-self Letting other roles take precedence Presenting and sharing findings

Conclusions: For an insider the use of self is central to the research process. Through active reflexivity and on-going reflection there is a constant re-evaluation of the ‘self’ in relation to the ethnographic process and product.

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