Navigating Methodological Shifts: A Reflexive Account of Researching Cross-Regional Families in Rural North India

This paper provides a reflexive account of the methodological journey undertaken during a study on cross-regional families in rural North India. Initially conceived as a qualitative study utilizing biographical narrative interviews with emerging adults (aged 18-25), the research faced challenges related to participant recruitment, limited narrative depth, and ethical considerations surrounding family dynamics. Insights from the pilot study led to a methodological shift toward a mixed-methods embedded design, incorporating both qualitative interviews and quantitative socio-demographic data. This paper details the rationale behind these adaptations, discusses the epistemological and ontological shifts that informed the research redesign, and reflects on the implications of researcher positionality. By documenting these methodological transitions, this study contributes to the growing discourse on research adaptability by demonstrating how reflexive engagement can strengthen qualitative inquiry in sensitive and evolving research contexts, particularly in contexts involving marginalized or underrepresented populations. The paper underscores the importance of iterative methodological flexibility in qualitative research and highlights the nuanced challenges of studying social stigma, caste dynamics, and identity formation within cross-regional families. Ultimately, this study contributes to methodological literature.