The researcher as the ex-musician : considering researcher status in the interview setting

Michael Hartup

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Looking at the music-making practices of a group of young Australians who experience some level of disadvantage or stigma as a result of personal experience, I consciously positioned myself as both an ‘ex-musician’ and as someone who reviews new music. Personal self-disclosure and treating participants as experts in their field allowed participants to be more forthcoming with their own experiences. In my research, self-disclosure allowed for a more level playing field leading to a greater sense of trust and rapport between participant and researcher. Through disclosing my own personal story when conducting interviews, participants felt more comfortable speaking of their own vulnerabilities. Presenting as someone also with a certain level of musical knowledge and as someone who writes about music meant participants felt comfortable leaping into discussion around the more technical aspects of their practice. Having participants assume a role of expert in their field also assisted greatly in providing detailed honest data. Through telling of my subsequent giving up of music due to a lack of technical prowess, I had positioned myself as someone there to learn, thus allowing the young person to assume the role of expert, simply by being embedded in a music-making practice. This paper will explore how, through the use of a reflexive approach, smart and crafted methodologies can be used allowing for an approach that is designed to not only ensure that the interview experience is built on a level of trust and honesty, but also deliver robust and detailed data.
Original languageEnglish
Number of pages14
JournalGlobal Media Journal: Australian Edition
Volume10
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - 2016

Keywords

  • musicians
  • research
  • young adults

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