Insider-outsider: Methodological reflections on collaborative intercultural research

Abstract

With the development of globalization and the mobility of academics, there is an increasing opportunity for cooperation in intercultural research. This however raises questions about the advantages and disadvantages of being a cultural insider and outsider in such an endeavour. This paper considers the methodological complexities of intercultural research revealed during the collaborative research undertaken in rural China by the two authors, one English and one Chinese. Questions emerged about how to maintain objectivity, integrity, and confidentiality within intercultural settings. As such, it provides many useful insights for researchers carrying out collaborative research in intercultural settings, whether as an insider or outsider. This study also contributes to the English literature on methodological studies in rural China.