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The Urge to
“Go Native”: A Discussion of Ethical and Epistemological Questions
Related to Research into One’s Own Clinical Practice. Author: Randi RolvsjordAbstract: In qualitative research the demand for objectivity is replaced with a call for reflexivity (Alvesson & Sköldberg, 2000). A hermeneutic stance holds that a subjective position is not only acceptable, but necessary for the development of understanding. This justifies research into one’s own clinical practice, numerous examples of which are to be found in qualitative research in music therapy. Participatory observation becomes a central method of collecting empirical material. Researching one’s own clinical work involves engaging oneself and the client in multiple roles as therapist-researcher and client-informant. Such multiple roles call for thorough reflection on ethical as well as epistemological concerns. In a therapy process, participants are aiming towards some kind of change, which might be seen to conflict with a researcher’s intention of researching something as it is without influencing it (Leod, 2001; Fangen, 2004). Perhaps the only ethical solution to this dilemma is for the therapist-researcher to “go native” in order to maintain her responsibility as a therapist. The point of departure for this discussion will be an ethnographically-informed case study from the field of mental health. References: Alvesson, M. & Skölberg, K. (2000). Reflexive Methodology. New Vistas for Qualitative Research. London: Sage Publications Fangen, K. (2004). Deltakende observasjon [Participatory Observation]. Oslo: Fagbokforlaget. McLeod, J. ( 2001). Qualitative Research in Counselling and Psychotherapy. London: Sage Publications. |