"Positionality & Research: How our Identities Shape Inquiry"

Summary

In this UCLA Library WI+RE tutorial, the creative design team explores the impact of social identities on the research process. They discuss how factors like educational background, race, ethnicity, and gender influence the way we search for information and evaluate resources. The concept of 'positionality' is introduced, highlighting the unique insights and biases that researchers bring to their work. The video emphasizes the importance of recognizing these biases to ensure a more inclusive and comprehensive research approach.

Takeaways

• 🔍 The research process is often viewed externally, focusing on actions like lab work or database searches, but internal factors like social identities also play a significant role.
• 🧩 Social identities encompass educational background, race, ethnicity, language, gender, sexual orientation, and geographic location, influencing information seeking and evaluation.
• 🌐 Positionality is the term researchers use to describe how our identities, experiences, and perspectives intersect with our research, providing unique insights and biases.
• 🤔 Positionality can bias our research by affecting which resources we choose, our criteria for 'good' sources, and how we present our findings.
• 🚫 The notion of research being neutral or objective is challenged; acknowledging our inherent biases is crucial for ethical research practice.
• 🤝 Awareness of our biases is key to ensuring inclusivity in research and avoiding assumptions about experiences different from our own.
• 💡 The goal is not to eliminate bias but to recognize and manage it, ensuring a more comprehensive and fair research approach.
• 🤗 It's okay to have biases; what matters is being conscious of how they might impact our research and taking steps to mitigate their influence.
• 📚 The WI+RE creative design team at UCLA Library emphasizes the importance of understanding and reflecting on one's positionality in the research process.
• 💭 Reflecting on our identities is encouraged to better understand how they might shape our research perspectives and choices.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the tutorial presented by the WI+RE creative design team?

The main focus of the tutorial is to explore the relationship between social identities and the research process.

What are some external aspects of research that are commonly highlighted?

Commonly highlighted external aspects of research include working in a lab, conducting in-depth interviews, and searching through library databases.

What are internal factors that influence the research process according to the script?

Internal factors that influence the research process include social identities such as educational background, race and/or ethnicity, first language, gender, sexual orientation, and geographic location.

What is meant by the term 'positionality' in the context of research?

Positionality refers to the interconnection between place, identities, self-understanding, and relations to people, which brings unique insights and biases into the research process.

How does positionality affect the research journey?

Positionality affects the research journey by influencing which resources are selected or not, shaping criteria for determining 'good' sources, and affecting how research is presented or articulated.

Why is it important to be aware of our biases in research?

Being aware of our biases is important to ensure that we do not overlook certain voices in our research and to avoid making assumptions about experiences that are not our own.

What is the stance on research being a neutral or objective process according to the script?

The script acknowledges that research can never achieve full neutrality or objectivity due to the inherent biases we carry from our experiences and identities.

What is the goal regarding biases in research as mentioned in the script?

The goal is to be aware of how and where our biases are at play in our research to ensure a more inclusive and less assumptive approach.

What does the script suggest we do before moving on to strategies for mindful research?

The script suggests spending time reflecting on the identities that make up our positionality before moving on to strategies for mindful research.

How do social identities given meaning and social influence by societies affect research?

Social identities affect research by influencing where we search for information, how we evaluate resources, and what information we produce, thus impacting the research process and outcomes.

What role do experiences and perspectives play in the research process as per the script?

Experiences and perspectives, influenced by positionality, provide unique insights but also introduce biases that can shape the selection of resources and the criteria for evaluating sources in the research process.