Standing in the middle : insider/outsider positionality while conducting qualitative research with opposing military veteran political groups / David Flores
This case study describes the process and challenges of conducting qualitative research on two opposing military veteran political groups: Iraq Veterans Against the War and Vets for Freedom. The discussion is based on a dissertation project that compelled me to reflect on my simultaneous "insider" status as a military veteran and "outsider" status as a non-member of both veteran political groups. I describe negotiating my positionality throughout the research cycle, as I also shifted from trying to be "objective" to embracing the fluidity of my own identity and political views
