An autoethnography (sometimes referred to as a self-study or autobiography) is a form of research in which a researcher self-reflects and analyzes their personal experiences and perspectives to better understand a cultural, social, psychological, or political phenomenon.
Examples of Autoethnography
An autoethnography may consist of a teacher looking to systematically analyze the evolution of his instructional techniques through review of past curriculums and teaching methods. Another example of an autoethnography may include a researcher reflecting on and documenting her language acquisition and how she taught her children to speak and read. Many researchers at Teachers College (TC) conduct this form of research and often ask the question, when should I submit my self study to the Institutional Review Board (IRB)?
At its core, an autoethnography is about the self, and typically only involves analysis or study of documentation that is self-generated. In this form of narrative reporting, the investigator is not considered a research subject, and IRB approval is not required as IRB's purview is over systematic investigations involving human subjects and/or their data. However, there are some cases in which a researcher might still need to submit their protocol to the IRB.
Autoethnography Submissions to the IRB
The most common instance when a researcher should submit their autoethnography to TC IRB for review is when a student researcher plans to conduct an autoethnography as part of their dissertation. TC Office of Doctoral Studies (ODS) requires that an IRB approval letter be included along with a completed dissertation proposal. Thus, any doctoral student who plans to conduct an autoethnography as part of their dissertation must submit a proposal to the IRB. If the research study only involves an autoethnography (autobiography), students can select, “Not Human Subjects Research '' as the review category. Researchers should still complete the IRB application; in any section that asks about human subjects’ participation or recruitment, indicate “not applicable” as the researcher will not be including participants. Researchers should still describe how the data will be presented (e.g., data is only personal narrative with no one else identified in the data).
Another case in which a researcher should submit their research to the TC IRB is when the autoethnography involves the use of documents, data, or recorded materials that include information about other individuals. For example, if a researcher wants to examine transcripts of interviews with locals alongside their personal notes, the transcripts are considered human subjects data and the project should be submitted to the IRB for review. Hand notes or personal observations (autobiographical in nature) are not considered human subjects research; however, the inclusion of other participants’ data alongside those personal notes qualifies the study for IRB review..
Obtaining IRB approval is complex when the autoethnography method extends beyond personal notes to include identification of others or when it includes narratives from underrepresented, marginalized, or oppressed communities. Authoethnographers should consider the best ways to protect the rights and welfare of others.
Ethics and Autoethnography
Developing autoethnographic research requires critical self-examination, reflection on relationships, and investigation of personal networks. Researchers should constantly evaluate who might be identified in the data and how the context may affect the privacy of those individuals. Researchers conducting an autoethnography often live and maintain relationships in the community they describe in their research as their work is embedded in the context. As such, researchers should reflect on the possible ramifications that data exposure or identification may have on the people in that community. Inherent risks exist when a researcher identifies personal or community characteristics in their publications, (e.g., private conversations, relationship challenges, places, or appearances). Researchers can use “member checks” to examine how their work is interpreted and understood and to assess the risk their work may impose on individuals or a community.
Every proposal submitted to the IRB will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Researchers who have questions about whether their research activities should be submitted to the IRB can always inquire at IRB@TC.edu or schedule a meeting during virtual office hours.