ABSTRACT
Objectivity is often defined as a goal of social scientific research and writing. Researchers are expected to maintain a certain amount of distance or detachment from both the subject matter and the individuals they are studying. Recently, in both the social sciences and in related humanistic disciplines, there has been a restimulation of interest in the relationship between observer and observed. This chapter presents "Beyond 'Subjectivity'", to provide a specific discussion of research and writing in the case of The Mirror Dance. "Beyond 'Subjectivity'" is concerned with acknowledging one's involvement in one's work and with achieving some level of honesty in writing about that involvement. The article argues for use of insights about the self to help one understand others, and it advocates the development of a full enough sense of self, so that understandings of others will not be stilted, artificial, and unreal.
