From the Inside Out: Considerations for Conducting Insider-ish Reflexive Thematic Analysis

• In Event: Friday Roundtable Session 7:45 am
  In Roundtable Session: (Re)visiting Reflexivity: Positions, Relations, and Contexts (Table 6)

Abstract

In this conceptual paper, I argue for the value of integrating considerations of “insider-ish” proximity when conducting reflective thematic analysis (RTA). I begin by introducing reflexive thematic analysis, including recent discussions on the importance of meaningful reflexivity incorporation when citing this approach. I then introduce critical constructivism and interpretivism as potential paradigmatic means to guide RTA. I use this basis to argue for “insider-ish” positionality consideration when conducting RTA. I describe the term “insider-ish”, drawing from an example from a recent qualitative empirical study I conducted. Using this basis, I present my rationale for why “insider-ish” positionality should be meaningfully incorporated into reflexive thematic analyses in future cases where researchers identify with “insider-ish” relational positions to study participants.

Authors

• Karly Ball Isaacson, Michigan State University

• Arshad Imtiaz Ali, The George Washington University

• Samuel Burmester, University of California - Santa Cruz