10

ReseaRCh and The selF

Morwenna Griffiths

Introduction

This chapter considers the role of the self in research. it argues that arts- based,
practice- based research needs to address the issue of the self of the researcher. it
shows the significance of self within the processes and in its outcomes, whether these
are propositions, descriptions, explanations, theories, artefacts, changed practices or
changed understandings. in the first section, i present a brief overview of the theory
of the self which informs the argument of the chapter. in the second section, i outline
the logic of research processes from the initial conception of a research project through
to its end. section 3 contains three examples of different kinds of on going, arts- based,
practice- based research which are used to ground the subsequent discussion of how the
self enters into arts- based research, and the implications of this for researchers. The
fourth section draws on the examples from the third in order to provide an overview of
the intersections of self and research. The fifth section addresses criticisms sometimes
levelled at arts- based, practice-based research focused on its partiality. The final section
concludes with some remarks about the significance of acknowledging the place of the
self in research.

What is it to be a self?

This chapter draws on a range of theories of the self which are only very briefly
mentioned in this section. The purpose of the section is only to set the arguments of
the rest of the chapter into context. it is not intended as a full account.
Why are there so many theories? part of the reason is the mysterious nature of the
self. in some ways it is utterly familiar, part of what it is to be a person, as impossible
to be rid of as a shadow. We know ourselves – or do we? We deceive ourselves – how
does that work? and we surprise ourselves saying, ‘That wasn’t like me!’ sometimes
other people know us better than we know ourselves. and then again, just as we think
we have caught what it is to ‘be me’, we get older, gain and lose family members,
move countries, move jobs, discover new ideas and, generally, change for one reason