Roundtable: Insider, Outsider and In-Between: Navigating Access, Relationships and Positionality in Doctoral Fieldwork Research
Fieldwork can take place in settings that feel familiar or entirely new. Some researchers conduct fieldwork within their own communities or in places where they have previously lived and worked, while others enter the field as newcomers. Depending on our backgrounds, experiences and relationships to the communities we study, we may find ourselves positioned as insiders, outsiders or, often, somewhere in between.
Researcher positionality can shape every stage of the research process, influencing access, relationships, ethical decision-making and the ways in which we are perceived in the field. Yet these positions are rarely fixed. Researchers who begin fieldwork as outsiders may become increasingly integrated into local communities over time, while those returning to familiar settings may encounter new expectations, responsibilities or forms of distance. As identities and relationships evolve, so too do the opportunities and challenges associated with conducting fieldwork.
This roundtable brings together researchers who have completed fieldwork across a range of contexts to reflect on the practical, methodological and ethical dimensions of fieldwork research. Drawing on their experiences, panellists will discuss how insider, outsider and in-between positions shape access, trust-building, reciprocity, reflexivity, researcher wellbeing and the broader research process. The discussion will be chaired by an experienced fieldwork researcher and will provide an opportunity to explore both the opportunities and challenges that arise when conducting research across different social, cultural and institutional contexts.
The session is intended as an open and supportive space for doctoral researchers to exchange experiences, share practical insights and reflect critically on the role of positionality in fieldwork. Participants will have the opportunity to engage with the panellists, ask questions and connect with fellow researchers from across the University. Researchers from all disciplinary and methodological backgrounds are warmly welcome to join this interdisciplinary discussion.
Chair for MT 26
Keiko Kanno
Panellists for MT 26
TBC
Bookings for MT 26 workshops and events will open on Friday 9th October
Our booking process
When your application is received, you will be emailed a link and then have 48 hours to complete a pre-workshop form requesting additional information. If you do not meet this deadline, your application will be cancelled.
See our full Terms and Conditions below
If you have specific circumstances which may affect your engagement with this event, or your meeting our Terms and Conditions, please continue with your booking and contact us by email to discuss how we can support you: researcherdevelopment@socsci.ox.ac.u
The Chair
Keiko Kanno
Other Divisional Events
Researcher Development Terms and Conditions
In booking any training workshops, you agree that:
COMMITMENT: application is not an expression of interest; it is a firm commitment. You will be available for the full duration of the course session(s); if you are not, please do not make a booking. You will not accept any subsequent meeting invitations that may fall during the given workshop times.
PRE-WORK / HOMEWORK: if applicable, you will complete any given pre-work and/or homework as described on the workshop web listing, as it constitutes part of the workshop
CANCELLATION: should your circumstances change, and you are not able to attend the full session(s). you will cancel giving at least 72-hours' notice, so we can offer the place to someone on the waiting list.
ARRIVAL: you will join, or arrive at, the workshop 5 minutes before the advertised start time, to ensure a prompt start.
LATE POLICY: you understand that the online room will be locked / workshop door will be closed 10 minutes after the event start time and late-comers will not be admitted. This is to preserve the integrity of the course for those who are present.
ENGAGEMENT: you will give the session your undivided attention and engagement. You will not be able to do other tasks in parallel. If online, you will ensure that your environment and internet connection allow you to participate verbally and with video cameras on. These are interactive workshops, and it is not appropriate to attend from a silent or shared workspace.
ATTENDANCE RECORD: you understand the Register will be taken in the last half-hour of the course, and anyone not present in the room at that point will be marked as non -attending (see below)
FEEDBACK: you will contribute feedback afterwards, to help us understand how well the session met its intended aims, and facilitate our continuous improvement
CONSEQUENCES OF NON-ATTENDANCE: you understand that any non-attendance
a) is visible to departments and supervisors/PIs, and
b) may result in any future bookings you've made within the same term being cancelled, and the place(s) offered to the waiting list.