Being rural in rural health research

Abstract

This paper explores ways that being from a rural background might influence the health research process and why this might occur. It draws on the research experiences of three 'generations' of rural health researchers to suggest rural background affects how researchers approach and conduct study, and how they interpret findings. Concepts of positionality, habitus, performance and 'othering' are explored to suggest how existing sociological and philosophical ideas can explain why rural researchers possess a particular worldview that may influence their research outputs.