B1.2 MANDATORY Reflective Activity - Subjectivity Statement

A closer look - writing your own subjectivity statement

(PDF FILE BELOW HAS THIS SAME INFORMATION)

Subjectivity statements can be written for many purposes and in many ways. In this activity the subjectivity statements are considered according to the structure developed by Judith Preissle in the Sage Encyclopedia of Qualitative Research (2008), p.844. PDF of this also below.

Here are some benefits of writing a subjectivity statement:

• to clarify your own relationship with your research
  
• to give context to your research for others to consider as a way of evaluating the validity, authenticity or quality of the study
  
• to respond to requirements by journals or collaborators
  

Subjectivity statements explore the relationship between the researcher and the research - considering methodology, topic and possible research subjects. Examples of how our personal history and characteristics may influence our research include

• studying minority group you belong to yourself,
  
• researching social impact of a disease someone in your family suffers from
  
• researching a topic on which you have strong ethical or religious views
  
• researching something you have invested a lot of time in and thus developed a close contact with
  

Typically the subjectivity statement will identify the following aspects that may bias, unbalance or limit the research endeavor:

• personal experiences
  
• beliefs
  
• feelings
  
• cultural standpoints and
  
• professional predispositions
  

For example consider what these could be if the study focused on online gaming or experiences of a minority group - the relationship the researchers has in each group, the experiences he/she has had in these activities or the feelings they hold in relation to people in these groups may have a significant influence in what questions are asked, which methodologies are chosen and how qualitative material is interpreted.

Typically subjectivity statements are evolving documents. The new experiences through the inquiry process will change the relationship each has with the research topic. There are also different ways subjectivity statements can be constructed. They can be either stories of the research timespan where the relationship is described from the start to finish of the project. Alternatively, subjectivity statements can be autobiographical in nature describing the person and their history and how these relate to the research topic.

Typically all subjectivity statements will include basic data of the researcher such as their:

• age
  
• race
  
• gender/sex
  
• socioeconomic status
  
• achieved characteristics like education or occupation
  

The most valuable part of the subjectivity statement is the reflection on how these characteristics and the above mentioned beliefs, experiences and cultural points of reference may bias, influence or limit the inquiry and what steps have been taken to limit their influence.

In this activity you are invited to start the process of writing your own Subjectivity Statement. You can choose your approach (e.g. autobiographical or research process). Make sure you include all the information you think is relevant considering how you being you may influence the research process. The true value to you and your reader is the reflection on how your characteristic and experiences may influence your research work.

Use this space to start writing your own subjectivity statement. You may wish to first write it for you only, as an exercise to explore your relationship with your own research. Later you may wish to develop that into a statement you are ready to share with others and if need be, publish alongside with your research results.