Negotiating Researcher-Participant Positioning in a Low-Income Community Science Club

• In Event: Moscone Center North Roundtable Session 1
  In Roundtable Session: Researcher-Participant Relation(ship)s

Abstract

This paper explores a community-responsive informal science club developed for low-income elementary school children. Alongside an established community organization, we co-created a laboratory-styled after-school science club during the second year of a 2-year research project. Specifically, this paper examines how the personal characteristics of our researcher-participant influenced the community-based research project, adding new context to the researcher identity literature. Using reflexive interpersonal narrative as a method of inquiry we describe how this researcher grappled with multiple roles and identities to contribute to the success of the project. Meta-analysis revealed two emergent themes: the importance of ‘leaning-in’ and ‘researcher honesty’. These findings serve as important lessons and offer valuable insight when developing research teams to work in vulnerable community spaces.

Authors

• Kristen Schaffer, University of Toronto

• Lydia E Carol-Ann Burke, University of Toronto