Chapter 8: Thinking Through Fieldwork Encounters in Brazil: Critical Reflections and Future Pathways

A group of progressive scholars in the social sciences has offered sound critiques of the colonizing and neoliberal agendas shaping qualitative research, arguing that traditional approaches are frequently framed within the cultural practices and preferences of the Western world (Bishop, 2005; Tillman, 2002; Rains, Archibald, & Deyhle, 2000; Smith, 1999; Zavala, 2013). These authors have pointed to the need for a critical analysis of the power relationships between researchers and research participants, especially when working with marginalized groups. They also argue against positivistic concepts in qualitative research, such as the neutrality, objectivity, and distance of researchers as well as notions of authority, representation, and accountability in the research process.