Positionality statement

<p>A positionality statement, also called <a href="/facts/Reflexivity_(social_theory)/1du8jj8p">reflexivity</a> statement or identity statement, is a statement wherein a person (such as a <a href="/facts/Researcher/mo8joeTL">researcher</a> or <a href="/facts/Teacher/5zkjcWo8">teacher</a>) reports and discusses their <a href="/facts/Group_identity/dSa0XAPR">group identities</a>, such as in a grant proposal or journal submission. They have become commonplace in certain fields of <a href="/facts/Social_science/hAbm1xtD">social science</a>, especially within the United States.
</p><p>Positionality statements focus on an "author's <a href="/facts/Racial_identity/cDPnrdXn">racial</a>, <a href="/facts/Gender/LfjRHcJy">gender</a>, <a href="/facts/Social_class/gJbHDVNc">class</a>, or other self-identifications, <a href="/facts/Lived_experience/aRHeVjh1">experiences</a>, and <a href="/facts/Social_privilege/n5FuC777">privileges</a>", based on the idea that the author's identity can, intentionally or not, influence the results of their research. Scholars have commonly identified this risk in cases where the researcher is the sole point of connection between the audience and research subjects and, relatedly, when there exists a known power imbalance between the researcher and the research subject. The expectation and/or practice of writing a positionality statement can also inform the researcher of ways to mitigate the influence of their personal identity on the research by clarifying such interactions before the data collection or analysis process concludes.  
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Positionality statement open-in-new

Positionality statement