Insider research in media accessibility
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5007/2175-7968.2025.e106837Schlagworte:
insider research, media accessibility, positionality, agency, disability studiesAbstract
Reflections on insider research, user-led research, and lived experience research, as well as the question of positionality, have long been part of the scholarly conversation in various fields, such as Anthropology and Disability Studies. The present study provides a map of insider research in media accessibility through a literature review and discusses the results of 11 semi-structured interviews with insider researchers working on (media) accessibility and neighbouring fields. Their reflections on positionality in insider research, the benefits and challenges of this approach, their practices in the insider-outsider continuum, and the (in)accessible research processes which they encounter are presented. Researchers reflect on positionality in a nuanced manner, highlighting topics such as visibility and self-reflection, but also stigma and performativity. Experiential closeness to the topic being researched, heightened empathy, and legitimation of insider researchers’ and participants’ knowledge are highlighted mostly as positives elements, granted that researchers are offered psychological support. For most of the researchers, the risks (emotional impact, unclear role of the researcher, if they are well acquainted with the participants, etc.) can be tackled or resolved (through epistemological reflection, through collaboration, through psychological support, etc.) and the general argument is that the benefits of insider research outweigh the disadvantages. Through the researchers’ experience, we argue for greater agency among insiders in the research of media accessibility.
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