Making valuable contributions to knowledge via autoethnography: The journey of a rising pracademic

Presented at the ALPSS Postgraduate Conference University of Waikato 2024 Autoethnography has become increasingly popular over the past few years. Despite ongoing criticism of its value as a methodology, many champion it as a useful and important part of the qualitative toolkit. It is particularly effective in supporting knowledge contributions related to marginalised groups and uncommon perspectives. Essentially, it is an excellent way to contribute to and ‘fill the gaps’ of existing knowledge. In this talk, I will share my reasons for choosing autoethnography as my methodological foundation, specific to my rising role as a pracademic (practitioner/academic). I will offer a brief overview of autoethnography as a methodology, and elaborate on my intended use of the process as part of my PhD research project. I will outline an example that demonstrates the value of an autoethnographic approach, drawing from my work in the field of aquatics and water safety education. Finally, I will offer perspectives on the potential value and positive contributions a pacademic’s use of autoethnography can offer as a transformative force for self, academia, industry and society. REFERENCE LIST: Adams, T. E., Holman Jones, S. L., & Ellis, C. (2022). Handbook of autoethnography (Second edition.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429431760 Beattie, L. (2022). Symbiotic Autoethnography: Moving beyond the boundaries of qualitative methodologies. Bloomsbury Academic. Dawson, K. (2021). Undercurrents of power: Aquatic culture in the african diaspora. University of Pennsylvania pr. Dickinson, Jill., & Griffiths, T.-Lisa. (2023). Professional Development for Practitioners in Academia: Pracademia (1st ed. 2023.). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-33746-8 Hall, S., Gilroy, P., & Gilmore, R. W. (2021). Selected writings on race and difference. Duke University Press. Hernandez, K.-A. C., Chang, Heewon., & Bilgen, W. A. (2022). Transformative autoethnography for practitioners: Change processes and practices for individuals and groups. Myers Education Press. Interview with Henry Giroux. (2020, December 23). [YouTube]. EduKitchen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBDUAbnryls Masekela, S. (2021). Afrosurf (M. Wata, Ed.). Potter/Ten Speed/Harmony/Rodale. Sinek, S. (2011). Start with why: How great leaders inspire everyone to take action. Portfolio / Penguin.