Abstract
Aim/Purpose Engagement in doctoral training is intended to lead to personal development, as well as – of course - the development of a person’s skills as a researcher. Having engaged in the occupation of doctoral training, I aim to reflect upon how my identity as researcher developed throughout this process; that is, through doing, being, becoming, and belonging. The aim of my doctoral research was to explore the impact of woman-to-woman rape and sexual assault. Hence, the foundational themes explored in this paper are sexual offending, auto/biography, and the significance of identity. Background I commenced my doctoral training as someone who identified as an occupational scientist and who, therefore, understood that occupation is a means through which people can develop, express themselves, and achieve some sense of belonging. Having completed my training, I reflect upon my becoming an auto/biographical researcher. Methodology In this original paper, I use the sociologically-informed auto/biographical approach, which affords me with the rationale for writing from the first-person perspective. Auto/biography concedes the combined inclusion of my own voice – as researcher - and the experiences of my respondents. Contribution Little is known about the issue of woman-to-woman sexual offending, let alone the impact of researching this traumatic topic upon the researcher. Moreover, research has only relatively recently started to grow that explicitly uses an auto/biographical approach, in which researchers embrace their subjectivity and positionality within their work.
DOI
10.28945/4004
Publication Date
2018-01-01
Publication Title
International Journal of Doctoral Studies (IJDS)
Publisher
Informing Science Institute
Embargo Period
2024-11-19
Recommended Citation
Twinley, R. (2018) 'Developing my Research Identity (Embodying the Self) through Exploring the Experience of Woman- to-Woman Rape and Sexual Assault Victim/Survivors: Doing, Being, Becoming, and Belonging', International Journal of Doctoral Studies (IJDS), . Informing Science Institute: Available at: https://doi.org/10.28945/4004
