The article addresses the ambiguities around my researcher role and racial/ethnic
identity as a Korean Adopted American qualitative researcher working with Korean
Born, Korean American high school students. These ambiguities stem from my attempts
to be recognized and accepted by the participants as an insider researcher. However,
the participants delineated and established my researcher role and racial/ethnic
identity as an outsider, which ultimately had a profound influence on our
relationship and the overall research project. Accordingly in this article, I
reflect on my racial/ethnic identity development and research role by discussing: 1)
how my racial/ethnic identity led me to believe that I held insider status with the
participants, 2) how my racial/ethnic identity was challenged by the participants,
and 3) how my researcher role and racial/ethnic identity were ultimately modified
through interactions with the participants.
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