Power dynamics between researcher and subject

In qualitative research, the researcher and the relationships they develop with research subjects are an integral part of generating knowledge about the social world. These relationships are imbued with power, influencing the findings of research. This chapter presents a case for “power-conscious” research, which recognizes power as an inevitable facet of social relationships. This approach seeks to understand and observe the microdynamics of power in research relationships and to create reciprocal spaces where both researchers and research subjects can exercise power and negotiate the terms of their involvement. Understanding how power operates in the process of research contributes significantly to the knowledge generated and can work toward cultivation of more just power relations in wider society.