Developing a collaborative methodology for research with community groups
Gremillion, Helen
Date
2013-11-11Citation:
Gremillion, H. (2013). Developing a collaborative methodology for research with community groups. Kotuitui: New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences Online.Permanent link to Research Bank record:
https://hdl.handle.net/10652/2666Abstract
This ‘short communication’ considers four different methodological approaches for ethnographic research projects that engage community groups when the research topic is contested amongst group members.
I locate my comments in the context of a proposed project on concepts of gender in the ‘mythopoetic’ men’s movement, and on feminist responses to these concepts; however, many of the points raised are applicable to a range of community projects. I discuss benefits and drawbacks of the following candidate methodologies : participant-observation (in this case, with a male partner researcher who is an ‘insider’) ; participatory-action research; reflexive ethnographic interviewing; and a collaborative documentary that incorporates aspects of video ethnography. A key consideration throughout is the positioning of the researcher and participants. I make a case for the uniquely collaborative potential of video when quite diverse perspectives are part and parcel of a proposed research agenda.