Gender studies

Sociology

Archaeology

Pedagogy

Value (mathematics)

Identity (music)

Credibility

Social science

Aesthetics

Reflexivity

Epistemology

Machine learning

Philosophy

Psychology

Ambivalence

Geography

Insider

Context (archaeology)

Computer science

Social psychology

British Journal of Special Education

Reflexivity involves the researcher's attentiveness to cultural aspects of the research context. In this article, I deconstruct scenarios from a reflexive diary and interpret how these scenarios respond to an insider–outsider positionality that is determined by my cultural identity, profession, gender and educational background. I examine reflexive dialogue as pertaining to several factors: the influence of my background on the research topic; the changing nature of positionality in different cultural locations; methodological decisions that are based on my positionality and the research context; preparation to conduct fieldwork in two distinct cultural contexts; and ways to establish rapport, approachability and cultural credibility. I conclude by acknowledging the value of reflexive practice, and by determining my ambivalent insider–outsider positionality in different cultural locations.

Deconstructing insider–outsider researcher positionality