Reflexivity in the production of abortion knowledge through research

• In Event: Reproductive Subversion Reconsidered: Contemporary Politics of Reproductive Knowledge

Abstract

Scholarly research on abortion represents a generalized view of what we know about abortion, and abortion research is overwhelmingly focused on negative aspects such as barriers to access, stigma, and increasing legal restrictions. Scholars have pointed out that this trend likely results in epistemic foreclosures of abortion as a positive experience. These foreclosures can affect research goals and data collection efforts, which in turn affect the data that are produced from research. We conducted an analysis of eight qualitative data collection instruments used by the Ohio Policy Evaluation Network since 2019 to explore what kind of information we were likely to collect during research studies. We then drew comparisons using the data generated from these instruments and conclusions from in progress and published papers. While there are opportunities for participants to share potentially positive experiences, most of the questions appear to privilege negative descriptions in their wording and the structure of the guides themselves limit these opportunities. These expectations for mostly negative experiences are generally reflected in the findings from published papers using these data. However, despite privileging or assuming negative experiences, there are also plenty of data, especially from patients, that speak to positive experiences, the ethics of care, and support. Our findings indicate that while the questions in these data collection instruments may influence the statements participants make, they are not so limiting as to prevent participants from sharing a more comprehensive picture of their experiences. Our findings also show that abortion seekers and professionals have positive experiences that they are willing to share with researchers who are willing to explore them. This exercise in reflexivity revealed how important it is for abortion researchers to consider the impact of their work when designing research studies and data collection instruments.

Authors

• Cynthia Beavin, University of Cincinnati

• Laetitia Miron, University of Cincinnati

• Hillary Gyuras, University of Cincinnati

• Danielle Bessett, University of Cincinnati

• Jessica Sinclair, Mayo Clinic

• Autumn Kirkendall, University of Cincinnati

• Michelle L McGowan, Mayo Clinic