Reclaiming Positionality as Methodological Praxis for Truth-Telling in Education Research

Session Type: Virtual Symposium

Abstract

This symposium of papers interrogates positionality as a methodological concept that is relatively known yet widely misunderstood. Positionality is often treated as a rollcall of identity constructs (e.g., race, gender) describing the social identities of researchers and researched. Although this approach is a starting point, what is missing is an understanding of positionality as methodological praxis equipped to disrupt power hierarchies reinscribed by the research process. Featuring five papers, this symposium reclaims positionality as methodological praxis for truth-telling and humanizing in education research. The session will conclude with synthesized remarks from the session’s discussant and time for dialogue and question and answers amongst panelists and attendees.

Sub Unit

• Division D - Measurement and Research Methodologies / Division D - Section 3: Qualitative Research Methods

Chairs

• Michael W. Moses, University of California - Riverside

• Francesca A. Williamson, University of Michigan

Papers

• A Black Feminist Approach to Positionality as Dynamic Relationships in Education Research - Michael W. Moses, University of California - Riverside; Francesca A. Williamson, University of Michigan

• Thinking Through Positionality Using Nirmal Puwar's Space Invaders - Hanain Brohi

• Positionalities as Practicing Place in Postcritical Ethnography - Alexandra Panos, University of South Florida

• (Teaching) Methodology Matters: Radical Pedagogy and Positionality in the Qualitative Inquiry Classroom - Maureen Alice Flint, University of Georgia

• Black Women's Positionality in Pushing Qualitative Research - Dajanae Palmer, University of Missouri

Discussant

• Jori N. Hall, University of Georgia