Cultural Insiders and Research Fieldwork: Case Examples From Cross-Cultural Research With Thai People

International Journal of Qualitative Methods

DusaneeSuwankhong¹ 

关键词: cross-cultural research;    insider/outsider perspective;    gender;    ethnicity;    successful fieldwork;    qualitative study;   

DOI  :  10.1177/1609406915621404

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Sage Journals

【 摘 要 】

The status of the insider and outsider is an important concept for cross-cultural research. Being a cultural insider is recognized as a strength that allows the researcher to take part in the everyday lives of local people and to get closer to the participants. We explore these issues using examples from our own research with Thai people in southern Thailand and in Melbourne, Australia. We suggest that insider status has an impact on whether the researchers can conduct successful fieldwork and obtain in-depth understanding of the phenomenon being investigated. Being an insider enables a researcher to conduct research more sensitively. It helps in gaining a deeper understanding of the sociocultural contexts of the research setting. However, there are also challenges associated with insider status. These include the need to reestablish our position in a community, our assumptions about what the participants tell us, and participants’ expectations about us. This article provides case examples for researchers...

【 授权许可】

CC BY-NC