Researchers’ positionalities: conducting team ethnography for educational research

Lu Liu and Sophia L Ángeles

Chapter 24 in Research Handbook on the Anthropology of Education, 2026, pp 245-255 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: This chapter examines how researcher positionalities shape the analytic process within team-based, ethnographically oriented research. Drawing on a meta-analysis of our own analytical process, we present empirical examples from a previous research project to illustrate how multiple researcher positionalities and standpoints enhance data interpretation. By critically engaging with our differing perspectives, we demonstrate how collaborative reflexivity, checking assumptions, suspending judgment, delaying conclusions, and actively seeking alternative possibilities strengthen our collective analysis. Our findings underscore the value of structured reflexivity in ethnographic teamwork, particularly in anthropology of education, where diverse researcher standpoints shape understandings of educational phenomena. Methodologically, this study contributes to discussions on transparency and rigor in collaborative ethnography by making visible the social dimensions of interpretation. In this chapter, we argue that embracing positionality as an analytic resource enriches ethnographic insights and fosters more nuanced, ethically grounded research.

Keywords: Researcher positionality; Collaborative analysis; Suspend judgment; Check assumptions; Team ethnography (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035332908
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