The place of self and reflexivity in third sector scholarship: An exploration

This article draws attention to two significant strands in the development of contemporary social science scholarship: the recognition of the importance of self in research processes and the recognition of the reflexive nature of knowledge construction. It argues that these two strands should be taken more seriously by nonprofit and voluntary sector scholars. A family history case study is presented: the outcome of the author's own research into the ways in which the lives of her parents and grandparents, as well as her own life, have been affected by nonprofit and voluntary organizations. The author considers how this has affected her own academic work in the nonprofit and voluntary sector field. The article concludes with a discussion of what, in the light of the case study, social science thinking on reflexivity and on the place of self in research might contribute to third sector scholarship in the future.