The ‘problem’ of undesigned relationality Ethnographic fieldwork, dual roles and research ethics

• Published in: Ethnography Vol. 20; no. 1; pp. 8 - 26
• Main Author: Bell, Kirsten
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England Sage Publications, Ltd 01.03.2019; SAGE Publications; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Epistemology; Ethics; Ethnography; Field study; Fieldwork; Research ethics; Researcher subject relations; Researchers; relationality; research ethics; disciplinarity; dual roles; ethnography

Perhaps the most unique feature of ethnographic fieldwork is the distinctive form of relationality it entails, where the ethnographer’s identity as a researcher is not fixed in the way typical of most other forms of research. In this paper, I explore how this ‘undesigned relationality’ is understood...