Reflexivities and Fieldwork in Qualitative Research

Panel on: Reflexivities and Fieldwork in Qualitative Research This proposed session will be a panel presentation of three professionals – all three of us, nurses in their journey of conducting qualitative researches. In our conduct of fieldwork, we have realized the value of reflexivity in our journey of learning…not only about our respective researches but the rigor and trustworthiness of the data that emerged. This session will be our stories from the field and how it has changed us, our work and the people we journeyed with. A Journey of Learning and Trustworthiness Erlinda Castro-Palaganas, PhD, RN University of the Philippines Baguio Baguio City, Philippines ecpalaganas@up.edu.ph Conducting research, more so, fieldwork, changes every researcher in many ways. This paper shares the various reflexivities – the journeys of learning – that we underwent as field researchers. Here, we share the changes brought about to ourselves, as a result of the research process, and how these changes have affected the research process. It highlights the journey of discovering how we, as researchers, shaped and how we were shaped by the research process and outputs. All these efforts were done in our attempts to discover and understand various social phenomena and issues such as poverty, development, gender, migration, and ill health in the Philippines. This article includes the challenges encountered in our epistemological stance/s and personal and methodological concerns shown in our reflexivity notes/insights. Indeed, it is when researchers acknowledge these changes, that reflexivity in research constitutes part of the research findings. It is through this consciousness of the relational and reflective nature of being aware of personal and methodological concerns that we honor ourselves, our teammates/co-researchers and all others involved with the research project. As researchers, we need to be cognizant of our contributions to the construction of meanings and of lived experiences throughout the research process. We need to acknowledge that indeed it is impossible to remain “outside of” one\u27s study topic while conducting research. Reflexivity and Ethnonursing Carielle Joy Rio, PhD, RN Universitas Pelita Harapan Jakarta, Indonesia yelli.estudyante@gmail.com The uniqueness of ethnographic studies lies on the fact the researcher attempts to gather data in the most natural way possible. Gathering data in the participants’ natural environment may require an ethnonurse researcher to be in an environment that is unnatural to him or her. In researches wherein the participants’ narratives and observable behaviors are the fundamental basis for truth, a mutual trusting relationship becomes the foundation in acquiring credible data. This presentation will focus on my stories while doing fieldwork as an indispensable component of any ethnographic research. I will share my perspectives and the highlights of my fieldwork laden with a multitude of unexpected challenges as well as serendipitous discoveries. The innumerable opportunities to acquire data and the diversity of data that can I acquired during fieldwork can be advantageous and challenging at the same time. Indeed, a well-founded understanding of the different philosophies that underpin the essential attributes of ethnonursing is crucial in addressing these challenges. Furthermore, the role of an experience ethnourse researcher as mentor was proven to be vital for novice ethnonurse researchers. Reflexivity: Grounding Data to the Break of Dawn Fatima Anquillano-Carsola, PhD, RN Union Christian College San Fernando, La Union, Philippines fanquillano@yahoo.com Alley, Jackson and Shakya (2015) said that reflexivity is a practical tool that enables the researcher to identify, understand, and act in relation to the personal, professional and political challenges they face in practice. Furthermore, they forwarded the idea that reflexivity can increase self-awareness as they are to acknowledge biases and examine the nature of their work. Gerrish and Lacey, 2006) as cited by Lambert, Jomeen and McSherry (2010) likewise wrote that reflexivity is perceived as an integral part of qualitative research because the researcher can reflect continuously on how their own actions, values and impact of perception in research setting and can also affect data collection and analysis. This presentation will focus on my reflexivities as a novice researcher, my inspirations, my triumphs, my pitfalls, my overcoming the challenge to explore the magnificence of non-positivist inquiries amidst being educated in a university dominated by quantitative perspectives. You will hear me share the life-changing situations that really pushed me to endure and persevere. I will share how I grounded my data to the break of dawn