Talks in Linguistics: Angela Betancourt: Unpacking Positionality: How Our Identities Shape Our Research
Talks in Linguistics
April 4, 2025
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Location
UH 1501
Calendar
Download iCal FileAngela Betancourt (Hispanic and Italian Studies, Director of the Heritage Language Program) will present.
In both qualitative and quantitative research, understanding the influence of the researcher's positionality is essential to ensuring the integrity and validity of findings. Positionality theory underscores that researchers embody multiple, intersecting identities, each shaping their interpretation and engagement with research subjects and data (Kezar, 2002). This means that the researcher does not merely observe or analyze but actively contributes to the construction of knowledge. This presentation will explore how researchers' positionalities—comprising factors such as gender, race, culture, and social status—impact the research process, including the choice of methods, framing of questions, and interpretation of results. It will emphasize the importance of reflexivity, urging scholars to continuously examine and challenge their assumptions throughout the research journey.
Date posted
Mar 12, 2025
Date updated
Apr 1, 2025