In the article A Healing Echo: Methodological Reflections of a Working-Class Researcher on Class, Hurst (2008) offers a powerful reflection on how her working-class background shaped both her research process and the way she engaged with the concept of class in qualitative research. Drawing on her own experiences, Hurst provides a critical look at how class can influence a researcher’s perspective, subjectivity, and positionality, especially in the context of conducting studies that explore class and social inequality.
Hurst begins by acknowledging the inherent challenges of conducting research on class from a personal standpoint, recognizing that her own working-class identity may impact how she is perceived by her participants and how she interprets the data. She emphasizes the importance of reflexivity—the practice of reflecting on one’s role as a researcher—and the need to consider how one’s social class can shape the research process. Her reflections challenge the traditional notion of the "neutral" or "objective" researcher, highlighting that all researchers bring their own experiences, biases, and subjectivities to their work.
One of the central themes in Hurst’s article is the idea that researchers from marginalized or working-class backgrounds bring unique insights and strengths to their research. Her position allowed her to connect with her participants on a personal level, creating a more authentic and empathetic understanding of their experiences. Hurst’s work calls for a greater acknowledgment of the influence of class in the research process and urges future researchers to embrace their own social locations, as they can deepen the richness and depth of qualitative studies.
Reference.
Hurst, A. L. (2008). A healing echo: Methodological reflections of a working-class researcher on class. Qualitative Report, 13(3), 334-352.
