Reflections from One Latino Field: Notes from Research Among Central Americans in the United States

Based on more than a decade of research in Central American immigrant communities in different US cities, I share reflections about my interactions with study participants in the different communities I have studied. I recount how my multiple social characteristics, experiences, and trajectories hav...

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Main Author: Cecilia Menjívar
Format: Article
Language:fra
Published: Université Paris 3 2003-01-01
Series:Cahiers des Amériques Latines
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.openedition.org/cal/7158
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author Cecilia Menjívar
author_facet Cecilia Menjívar
author_sort Cecilia Menjívar
collection DOAJ
description Based on more than a decade of research in Central American immigrant communities in different US cities, I share reflections about my interactions with study participants in the different communities I have studied. I recount how my multiple social characteristics, experiences, and trajectories have deeply affected the dynamics of such interactions. Paradoxically, those same characteristics that might facilitate access to a particular individual or groups can simultaneously hinder data collection among the same group. Highlighting differences and similarities between my study participants and myself, I argue that far from being a detached observer, the qualitative researcher is engaged in the act of conducting research, and thus, personal characteristics of both the researcher and the researched shape the nature of the data gathered, the analysis, and ultimately what is written.
format Article
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issn 1141-7161
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publishDate 2003-01-01
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series Cahiers des Amériques Latines
spelling doaj-art-8a5eefc357654f43a10aaee052c50d292025-08-20T02:02:41ZfraUniversité Paris 3Cahiers des Amériques Latines1141-71612268-42472003-01-0142698010.4000/cal.7158Reflections from One Latino Field: Notes from Research Among Central Americans in the United StatesCecilia MenjívarBased on more than a decade of research in Central American immigrant communities in different US cities, I share reflections about my interactions with study participants in the different communities I have studied. I recount how my multiple social characteristics, experiences, and trajectories have deeply affected the dynamics of such interactions. Paradoxically, those same characteristics that might facilitate access to a particular individual or groups can simultaneously hinder data collection among the same group. Highlighting differences and similarities between my study participants and myself, I argue that far from being a detached observer, the qualitative researcher is engaged in the act of conducting research, and thus, personal characteristics of both the researcher and the researched shape the nature of the data gathered, the analysis, and ultimately what is written.https://journals.openedition.org/cal/7158immigrantscitiesUnited Statescentroamericansqualitative research
spellingShingle Cecilia Menjívar
Reflections from One Latino Field: Notes from Research Among Central Americans in the United States
Cahiers des Amériques Latines
immigrants
cities
United States
centroamericans
qualitative research
title Reflections from One Latino Field: Notes from Research Among Central Americans in the United States
title_full Reflections from One Latino Field: Notes from Research Among Central Americans in the United States
title_fullStr Reflections from One Latino Field: Notes from Research Among Central Americans in the United States
title_full_unstemmed Reflections from One Latino Field: Notes from Research Among Central Americans in the United States
title_short Reflections from One Latino Field: Notes from Research Among Central Americans in the United States
title_sort reflections from one latino field notes from research among central americans in the united states
topic immigrants
cities
United States
centroamericans
qualitative research
url https://journals.openedition.org/cal/7158
work_keys_str_mv AT ceciliamenjivar reflectionsfromonelatinofieldnotesfromresearchamongcentralamericansintheunitedstates