Experience of Being an Insider and an Outsider during a Qualitative Study with Men Who Have Experienced Significant Weight Loss

The major question being answered in the study is, "What is the experience of being an insider/outsider in a study regarding men and significant weight loss?" The purpose of the paper is to explore the experience of being both an insider and an outsider, and specifically to discuss how researcher status and self-disclosure emerged and impacted the research process. The methodology used in the research study is narrative inquiry, specifically self-narrative. In the study, membership role status was found to be difficult to define, inherently complex, and arbitrary at times. Additional research on the topic of membership role status is needed and the level of importance should be further explored for the specific population. Keywords: Qualitative Research, Membership Role StatusThe topic of membership status has been discussed widely within the literature as it relates to qualitative research inquiry (May, 2014; Ochieng, 2010). A significant amount of the discussion regarding membership role has been focused on the insider/outsider status dichotomy, with less discussion specifically regarding what has been referred to as "the space between." The Space Between is a concept rooted in the perspective that holding membership status in a group does not denote sameness and not holding membership status in a group, does not denote complete difference (Dwyer & Bucker, 2009). In addition, the space between is a perspective that supports the notion that individuals operate a location where they can be both a part of and separate from a group (Dwyer & Bucker, 2009). Likewise, while there have been general discussions regarding membership status and possible implications for research (Collet, 2008), there has been a lack of discussion regarding the topic specifically as it relates to men who have experienced significant weight loss. Most importantly, the literature regarding insider verses outsider status is lacking as it specifically relates to discussions regarding gender and masculinity, as well as other contextual factors. The purpose of the paper is to explore the experience of being both an insider and an outsider, and specifically to discuss how researcher status and self-disclosure emerged and impacted the research process.Through reflecting and critically analyzing experiences while completing a research project regarding male bariatric surgery patients, I attempt to further the discussion of membership status and the complexities inherent when engaging in qualitative research. The discussion regarding gender and membership status has significance as it may impact how researchers develop and conceptualize future research regarding obese male populations. With the obesity epidemic being at an all-time high, according to some scholars, (i.e., Wang & Beydoun, 2007) researchers must be cognizant of the ways in which they address methodology in efforts to obtain the most critical and necessary information from research participants. Having a more clear understanding about the importance, lack thereof, or the very notion of membership status in general, may provide information that could be utilized to address future research, development of specialized medical interventions, and ultimately inform health care policy.Literature ReviewThere have been a number of researchers who have examined the topic of membership role status (insider and outsider status) within qualitative research (Asselin, 2003; Merriam, Johnson-Bailey, Lee, Kee, Ntseane, & Muhamad 2001; Ritchie, Zwi, Blignault, BundeBirouste, & Silove, 2009). Most of the researchers have focused on debating the legitimacy of insider status and outsider status, as it relates to research methodology. In addition, traditionally the topic of insider status and outsider status has been discussed as two distinct and dichotomous variables. However, more recently there have been some researchers who have challenged the notion of one being solely an insider or an outsider as it relates to qualitative research. …