Walking on thin ice: Reflexivity in doing ethnography

Book chapter, 2021

Researcher reflexivity is important throughout the research process, especially in ethnographic enquiry. This chapter provides a reflexive account of our research experiences with exiled Syrian academics, whose efforts to re-establish their academic careers in their new contexts and publish in English as an Additional Language we have been following for more than two years. Data are taken from a longitudinal multiple-case study using ethnography as deep theorizing (Lillis, 2008). In this chapter we provide a reflexive account of five research methodological aspects: participant recruitment, conducting and analysing interviews, Text Histories, textual representation, and ethics in collaborative ethnography. We discuss how aspects of the researcher’s experience and position interact with the research process.