Image: Amy Stich, Elizabeth Ndika, Kanler Cumbass, and Collin Case recently presented their paper, Negotiating Ourselves: Navigating Paradigmatic Conflict and Diverse Identities in Collaborative Qualitative Research at the 2021 ICQI Conference. Within higher education, large-scale, externally funded qualitative research often requires multiple researchers engaged in the collection, management, and analysis of data. Numerous scholars have examined issues surrounding individual researcher positionality in qualitative inquiry. However, relatively few studies address or provide specific guidance on negotiating diverse positionalities within larger team-based research projects– particularly those that are hierarchical in nature. With this initial focus in mind, the group pursued an additional deep dive into the literature. That inquiry allowed them to come together to discuss group reflexive process and ideas that emerged from the practice. Three things emerged: normative assumptions, hierarchy, and group norms. The team is currently exploring how to become more critical of the hierarchy structures and how that awareness plays into intra-group power dynamics. They are also investigating how those dynamics connect to individual team member identities. The IHE students recommend the ICQI Conference to other scholars interested in qualitative research. Other conference presenters showcased a variety of different approaches, and the number of sessions presented in four days made it difficult to choose which to attend. Elizabeth Ndika said, “I gained insightful connections into additional literature as well as learned other forms of qualitative methodologies directly from the scholars using them.” The ICQI convenes annually. The next conference, Transformative Visions and Utopias of Hope in Qualitative Inquiry, is slated for May 18-22, 2022. Type of News/Audience: Research
