A Canadian colleague of mine was planning an auto-ethnography of self-discovery in genomics. There were a few issues regarding discovery and disclosure there. I am interested in this as planning an ethnography of ethics education. Where the I occurs, how much can I say about my experiences without formally involving the other? 

Hi Melissa and Andrew, I use autoethnography in my work. I use autoethnography because, as a researcher, it allows me to describe and systematically analyse my own experience related to the particular social phenomenon I am studying. Having said that, it is true that there are ethical issues to consider particularly around disclosure and the value and extent to which 'I' can validate personal experience as knowledge. The way I managed this ethical dilemma is by using what Anderson calls the ‘five key features of analytic autoethnography: (1) complete member researcher status, (2) analytic reflexivity, (3) narrative visibility of the researcher’s self, (4) dialogue with informants beyond the self, and (5) commitment to theoretical analysis.’ (2006, p. 378).

See, Anderson, L. (2006) Analytic autoethnography, Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, 35, 373.

Thanks for your replies, these are quite thought provoking, and Andrew asks a good question, ie how much of the other can we include in discussing our experiences? In my research currently I see this as an ongoing site of negotiation between myself and other participants. And I am trying to be mindful of avoiding disclosure of what others may wish to be kept confidential. Have you heard of the notion of 'mindful slippage'?, this is where as researchers we deliberately choose not to include data in our narratives. See Doloriet and Sambrook, (2009), Ethical confessions of the 'I' of auto-ethnography: the student's dilemma, Qualitative Research in Organizations and Management, 4 (1). 

Many thanks to Kiros, I shall definitely refer to that text, and I feel that your number 4, about dialogue with informants could be of use to Andrew. For me at present the issue is around how much of myself am I willing to disclose, so I am considering the notion of self-harm here I guess.

I'm working with a grad student on this topic and are hoping to present it at the National Communication Association Convention in November. Fingers crossed. I wrote a bit about my own dilemmas as an AE researcher here: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259649101_Criteria_Against_Ourselves_Embracing_the_Opportunities_of_Qualitative_Inquiry

Article “Criteria Against Ourselves?”: Embracing the Opportunities o...

There's also a fantastic chapter in the Handbook of Autoethnography by Jillian Tullis on AE & Ethics.

Hi Andrew,

Thanks for the link and for the suggestion of Tullis on AE&Ethics.  Good luck with your presentation this November!

Hi Melissa

In the following article drawing on literature from my autoethnographic PhD 'Writing the ordinary: Autoethnographic tales of an occupational therapist' I start to look at relational ethics as a growing area of interest:

Denshire, S. (2014). On auto-ethnography. Current Sociology Review. 62 (6): pp. 831-850. DOI: 10.1177/0011392114533339

All the best with your AE research Melissa!

Sally

Thanks Sally! That sounds like a good read!!