‘Doing Biographical Reflexivity’ as a Methodological Tool in Transnational Research Settings

Abstract

AbstractThe transnational approach has broadened the theoretical understanding of complex migration processes and challenged traditional migration research approaches. Researchers are constantly required to adapt and refocus their work in accordance with changing social realities. This poses challenges to methodologies and methods used in qualitative research, and forces researchers to reflect on the possibilities and limitations of applying these methods in transnational research contexts. In the field of biographical research, the transnational perspective requires us to reconsider previously developed premises of biographical research and to reflect on current research practice. In this paper we introduce 'biographical reflexivity' as a theoretical and methodological tool to deal with the trap posed by methodological nationalism.Keywords: transnational researchmethodological nationalismbiographical researchbiographical reflexivity