‘Doing Biographical Reflexivity’ as a Methodological Tool in Transnational Research Settings

Abstract

The transnational approach has broadened the theoretical understanding of complex migration processes and challenged traditional migration research approaches. Researchers are constantly required to adapt and refocus their work in accordance with changing social realities. This poses challenges to methodologies and methods used in qualitative research, and forces researchers to reflect on the possibilities and limitations of applying these methods in transnational research contexts. In the field of biographical research, the transnational perspective requires us to reconsider previously developed premises of biographical research and to reflect on current research practice. In this paper we introduce 'biographical reflexivity' as a theoretical and methodological tool to deal with the trap posed by methodological nationalism.

Using reflexivity journaling to lessen the emic–etic divide in a qualitative study of Ethiopian immigrant women

“…This mode of reflexivity focuses on the biographical experiences that occur in the research process, reflecting on “the researcher’s own experience and involvement as an interactive, relational act in the research process” (p. 748). Ruokonen-Engler and Siouti (2013, 2016) point out that social scientists studying different cultures historically have valued positivist scientific methods, but scientists now realize that reflexivity is critical to transnational knowledge development. Ruokonen-Engler and Siouti (2016) consider biographical reflexivity in narrative research as a useful approach “to reflect methodologically the meaning of (one’s own) entanglements in a research process” (p. 748).…”

“…I have not immigrated to another country nor had to build a life in a new culture. I have approached this subject not as an expert, but as a learner who was taught from the women who own these experiences.In these words, I was actually focusing on “one-way migration processes seen from the perspective of the country of arrival and its national interests” (Ruokonen-Engler and Siouti, 2013: 249). I did not have my own biographical history of migration to influence my understanding of the stories I would hear from these 14 women.…”

Biographical Entanglements, Self-Reflexivity, and Transnational Knowledge Production

“…Second, we suggest "biographical reflexivity" as a theoretical and methodological concept that can help us to understand the central role of the researcher as a participant in the construction of the research field and in the (re)construction of the phenomena under investigation. Consequently, we argue for the importance of incorporating the analytical step of "doing biographical reflexivity" (Ruokonen-Engler & Siouti, 2013) in a qualitative research process and propose a reflexive narration scheme as a methodological tool that makes possible the analytical reflection of the researcher's biographical entanglements.…”

“…This has led to a revision of conventional methodological tools and to the development of new ones, in order to research social phenomena that reach beyond the nation-state frame of reference. Consequently, these methodological developments have been considered helpful in overcoming the "methodological nationalism" (Wimmer & Glick Schiller, 2003) that frames social-scientific research and its methodological devices (see Amelina, Faist, & Nergiz, 2012;Amelina, Faist, Nergiz, & Glick Schiller, 2012;Burawoy et al, 2000;Falzon, 2009;Köngeter & Wolff, 2012;Marcus, 1995;Molyneux, 2001;Ruokonen-Engler & Siouti, 2013;Zsuza & O'Riain, 2002).…”

Transnational Biographies

“…Only in more recent empirical investigations have transnational research perspectives been introduced in such a way that "commuting" can be treated as a resource rather than a deficit (Fürstenau 2004;Ruokonen-Engler/Siouti 2006;Sievers et. al 2010;Siouti 2013).…”