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Abstract
As studies of the role of media in the life of the family increase in quantity and
sophistication, researchers have an opportunity to reflect upon their methodological
approaches to understanding the contexts of media consumption, socialization practices
and mediation strategies. In particular, we are at a juncture where it is critical for
researchers to explore the complex ways in which families respond to being studied in
their home environment. This paper reflects upon the author’s experiences in two
separate research projects that involved working with families with school-age children
to learn about media use in the home. It focuses on the points at which the researcher
intersects with the family, and the ways in which meaning-making is negotiated between
the observer and the observed. Using a social constructionist approach, the paper
outlines how different families define the researcher’s “role” (student, person, guest,
negative agent) and how the role may ultimately shape the research environment.
Convention