“[q]ualitative
research is interpretative research, with the inquirer typically involved in sustained
and intensive experience with participants. This introduces a range of
strategic, ethical, and personal issues into the qualitative research process.
With these concerns in mind, inquirers explicitly identify reflexively their
biases, values, and personal background, such as gender, history, culture, and
socioeconomic status that may shape their interpretations formed during a
study.”(177)
Thank you
qualitative research for letting me be honest. I was always annoyed by the idea
of trying to keep your biases at bay. Trying to stay objective. Objective is unrealistic.
Everyone has biases, always and at all times. I think the most we can do to
reach truth is to acknowledge and embrace these biases so that when they
change, if they ever do, it will be real. Not only will acknowledging your
biases give insight to your readers, but also inside yourself. Qualitative
research seems like an opportunity to not only expose and learn about an
outside situation, but to recognize the situation in contrast yours. That
contrast can be enlightening. I don’t know if you have ever heard of this
phrase “first world problems”. I thought I had made it up, when one day
something stupid had inconvenienced me, but apparently it’s an internet thing.
With websites and hashtags dedicated to it. Anyways the site is basically an
outlet for people to complain about silly things that inconvenience them. The
inconvenience is an obvious problem, but in a third world country (as opposed to
our first world) these things wouldn’t be a problem. In some cases the fact
that these inconveniences exist only highlights the luxury that we are living
in. (http://www.reddit.com/r/firstworldproblems/).
Basically when you acknowledge that your problem IS a first world problem you
are admitting and understanding your bias. You understand yourself and
situation in contrast to another. Perspective.
Sometimes I get
a little too excited to throw my biased up in the air. But when I think of what
I see in the news on TV, radio, online, in publications I get irritated that
biases are not always admitted, mentioned or considered. But I understand that
being all into being biased could be dangerous and close an open mind. I am assuming
that when people acknowledge that they’re biased it would be obvious to realize
that other versions of biased thinking exist. I was talking with my mom about
my blog and as soon as I got all excited and uppity about being into my biases
she reminded me that I needed to keep an open mind and not let my biases close it.
I think of people who cling to their ideologies without acknowledging or accepting
that other exists. I guess that’s what embracing your biases could turn into if
there is not a moment while acknowledging your biases, that you acknowledge others.
The contrast gives perspective.
I am
naturally a horrible speller, because I’ve been using spell check since I was 6.
#FirstWorldProblems
Your mom sounds like a very smart woman! I, too, like the idea of being allowed to admit to our biases rather than trying to shove them into a closet somewhere and act like they do not exist. I agree with you that including a description of biases in a qualitative research paper not only gives us that freedom to be who we are, but also adds an extra dimension to our writing in a sense that we are not only viewing and addressing a problem, we are doing it through our own subjective lens. I think sometimes deeper observations can be made when the researcher is surprised by cultural differences as seen through his or her biased lens. Bias might spark an interest in a cultural difference that someone who was culturally similar might not see as interesting at all. Or maybe I am just reaching a bit because of my own biases toward bias...
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