Social Sciences and Communications
M. Yazdchi; N. Sharifi; A. Sharifiyan
Abstract
This paper puts emphasis on the necessity of discussing positionality in qualitative research methods, especially ethnography. Evaluating a qualitative study requires the reader to get information about the researcher's positionality with respect to their various social identities (like gender, race, ...
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This paper puts emphasis on the necessity of discussing positionality in qualitative research methods, especially ethnography. Evaluating a qualitative study requires the reader to get information about the researcher's positionality with respect to their various social identities (like gender, race, class, ethnicity, ability, geographical location etc and with their intentions for doing the fieldwork, their feelings and emotions, and their relationships with the informants. This paper ties to analyze eight published papers and one book based on qualitative and ethnographic studies in the Iranian society. It examines the harms and consequences of failure in discussing a researcher's positionality by applying a critical ethnographic and reflexive approach. Indeed, the paper analyzes the writers' use of language, their reasoning for doing the research and the reflexive discussion of their positionality while doing the research and later in writing a research report. It argues that not observing the reflective approach in research and concealing the researcher's positionality deprives the reader of the possibility of identifying possible bias. The paper also discusses two other consequences that are more recognizable in academic writing in Iran: "Self-heroism" display of research. Consequently, instead of clarifying their intentions and understanding the field and its relations, researchers solve problems and offer quick solutions.
Social Sciences and Communications
D. Gharayagh Zandi; S. Makouee
Abstract
As an Iranian tradition, the Nowruz ritual constituted based on the natural order and foundation. It may also be rooted in the social characteristics. Accordingly, it sets a context for peace and friendship in-between the human and the nature, as well as among the humans. The foundation is established ...
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As an Iranian tradition, the Nowruz ritual constituted based on the natural order and foundation. It may also be rooted in the social characteristics. Accordingly, it sets a context for peace and friendship in-between the human and the nature, as well as among the humans. The foundation is established according to the concepts such as the beginnings, the end of time, the diversification for happy-go-lucky, the life legend, the living proof, the echo-system of the nature, the harmony with the nature, focusing on the value - not price - of the nature, and finally the rhythmic tone of the time. Not only this foundation contributes in the social dimensions of human’s life in terms of peace and friendship, but also it is a good ground explaining that why it has a long-life in the Iranian culture during the historical trajectory. Thus, in the present study, it was attempted to explore the Nowruz ritual from the outset of the Iranian life in order to delve into a social solidarity and mental integrities made among them, and that could be extended over the generations and among other non-Iranian people too, and also to shed light on the mysterious long history concerning the Nowruz ritual in the past, nowadays and the future.
