“You Can Trust Me . . . Honest”: Claiming Trustworthiness in Statements of Subjectivity

Given the intricate relationship between knowledge and subjectivity, reflexivity has become crucial to demonstrating trustworthiness in qualitative inquiry. This reflexive process is then subsequently communicated to readers through various statements of subjectivity. In this paper, we critically analyze the evolution and role of these statements in qualitative research, tracing their evolution from a radical attempt to dismantle post/positivist ideals to their current status as an (at times) stale convention. We problematize statements of subjectivity as a measure of trustworthiness, examining how we use these declarations to legitimize qualitative methods, assert our expertise, and affirm our positionality vis-a-vis our participants. We argue that current practices may inadvertently perpetuate the conditions we seek to disrupt, from wrapping ourselves in the confines of objectivity by disclaiming it to recreating hegemonic power positions in the quest for exoneration. To illustrate our thoughts, we share our statements of subjectivity published in the quest for trustworthiness.