Repositioning the research encounter: exploring power dynamics and positionality in youth research

Abstract

Childhood and youth studies have seen the development of a range of innovative research methods over the past two decades. However, many studies have focused on the ideals of empowerment and ‘giving voice’ rather than developing understandings of the nuanced and complex experiences of children and youth. This paper argues that the development of an insightful sociology of childhood and youth necessitates an understanding of complex, fluid, and often political, processes of youth experience. It argues that the use of research methods characterized by a variety of power dynamics can generate situated knowledges of youth experience. Ongoing reflexive analysis of researcher and participant positionality in research encounters is posited as affording insightful and in-depth research perspectives. This is illustrated through discussion of qualitative research carried out with Muslim teens in the west of Ireland which involved the use of focus groups, visual narratives and an online blog site.

Keywords:

• teenagers
• youth research
• multi-method research
• positionality
• power dynamics
• participant-directed
• visual narrative
• focus group
• blog site

Notes

1. In line with ethical requirements pseudonyms are used to protect the anonymity of individual participants. However, the name of the town where the research took place has not been altered in publications.

2. Participants who chose not to contribute visual narratives took part in semi-structured interviews, based on themes that had emerged in the focus groups.

3. Shalwar Kameez is a traditional garment consisting of loose-fitting trousers and a long tunic-like shirt, worn by Muslim males of Pakistani origin.

4. In line with the stipulations of the university ethics committee the blog site was not publically visible through search engines and could only be viewed by people directly invited by participants and approved by the moderator. Participants were advised that content that could be construed as racist, bullying or inappropriate would be removed from the site.