Reflexivity and humility evoke a transformable methodology in a post disaster context

Abstract

Objective: The process of reflexivity is used to critically examine the experience of conducting qualitative research with functionally diverse older adults in a post disaster context.

Methods: The design of the study began with an interpretative phenomenological framework, using in-depth interviews. Fifteen individuals with functional and access needs living in Puerto Rico were interviewed regarding their experiences after Hurricane María of 2017.

Findings: In the field, it was necessary to expand the initial design, and adjust to participants' preferences and needs, as well as situational characteristics, without compromising ethical standards of practice. The methodology transformed because of the need for flexibility requiring humility from the researchers. A more relational form of inquiry was warranted, which acknowledged the intersubjectivity of human experience. This entailed adapting to community involvement, building rapport with community leaders functioning as gatekeepers, and integrating family or friends in interviews.

Discussion: The reflexive approach allowed for a better understanding of the researcher's positionalities and how they influence the ability or inability to develop trust (e.g. insider/ outsider status, Puerto Rican/ US, with functional and access needs/ without functional and access needs).

Conclusions: Given the shift toward relational inquiry and due to the challenges faced while carrying out the study, we suggest that post-disaster qualitative research would benefit from further including principles of indigenous decolonizing methodologies, which can be incorporated into studies using interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Keywords: Disaster; Puerto Rico; decolonial methodologies; disabilities; interpretative phenomenological analysis; qualitative; relational inquiry.