Positionality, ‘the field,’ and implications for knowledge production and research ethics in land change science

Abstract

Fieldwork is often framed as an individualistic rite of passage, wherein the researcher is a ‘neutral’ observer, thereby obscuring gender, racial and citizenship hierarchies. Feminist scholars have pushed against this assumption, leading to insights on researchers’ roles in fieldwork relations and knowledge production. We combine feminist perspectives and land change science (LCS) approaches to examine interactions between researcher positoinality and knowledge production. While ‘the field’ is a critical component in LCS research, there is a dearth of critical work on positionality. We examine how our positionalities–as a black, Ghanaian graduate student and a white, tenured professor–produce differential fieldwork relations. We link our experiences and relations to methods, results and ethics, revealing important implications for LCS researchers. We conclude by suggesting validation of self-reflection on positionality, as well as disruption of white hetero-patriarchism, create inclusive spaces, in terms of social differences, epistemology and methodology.