Reconciling Multiple Researcher Positionalities and Languages in International Research

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Abstract
Through the development of a set of ideas combining Merton's conceptions of the ‘Insider and Outsider’ with Lacan's notions of identity construction, the article examines: (1) the role of multiple researcher identities and positionalities, and (2) working in more than one language during data collection and analysis. The article aims to fill a surprising gap in existing literature on such issues in international educational research. Through a reflexive exercise on the fieldwork and data analysis process in one study, the article puts forward the concept of ‘currencies’ as a way to mediate researcher positionality and achieve temporary shared positionalities with research participants. It also highlights the need to mediate different languages during data analysis and presentation, introducing the concept of ‘analytic languages’ as a potentially useful construct in doing so.