how does this work compare to autoethnographic theory?
In Ellis's The Ethnographic 1, one of the author's characters, Valerie, spoke of allowing herself to be vulnerable in her interviews. Interviewing people on breast cancer after having suffered the disease herself, she said that she found trouble rehashing old challenges and opening herself up. This appeared to be unscholarly at first, but it allowed for greater chemistry with patients. Valerie searches for a "WOW factor" that Ellis claims comes from opening oneself up to his or her work.
So far, I have found that opening myself up has been very effective. I can better associate with my interviewees because I have gone through similar situations as Grant and I was just like a Coralwood student when I was younger. By allowing people to know my story and not being afraid to hide my past and motivation for the topic, I believe that I have been able to go deeper and receive more honest responses. I'm not an outsider looking to do a report. Rather, I am someone looking into his own past and trying to view similar experiences.
So far, I have found that opening myself up has been very effective. I can better associate with my interviewees because I have gone through similar situations as Grant and I was just like a Coralwood student when I was younger. By allowing people to know my story and not being afraid to hide my past and motivation for the topic, I believe that I have been able to go deeper and receive more honest responses. I'm not an outsider looking to do a report. Rather, I am someone looking into his own past and trying to view similar experiences.