‘Insighters’: the complexity of qualitative methods in youth music research

Abstract

In this article, I sketch out the rationale for utilising a reflexive and intersectional ‘insighter’ ethnography in youth research. I argue that because of the dynamic and complex nature of a youth music field such as punk, enquiry into young people’s scenes and spaces requires rigorous consideration at the beginning, middle and end stages of research. I understand such a methodology to be an ongoing reflexive dialogue, one that continues in the ‘writing up’ phase. Using the example of queer punx, I explain the selection of a semi-structured interview format, participant observation and ethnographic framework for data collection. Furthermore, I suggest that an insider position to the researc..