Undertaking qualitative research on sensitive topics often raises a variety of ethical problems. Based on empirical research, this book documents experiences throughout the entire research process: from conceptualization, ethics approval, fieldwork, to analysis and publication. It presents readers with stories from the researcher's perspective and synthesizes these experiences into a conceptual framework that will assist researchers to undertake qualitative research. Each section discusses potential pitfalls, provides quotes and stories and reviews the relevant literature and theory, providing readers with a description of the process of conducting sensitive research from the perspective of those actually doing the research. This is not a methodology textbook, rather, it discusses the issues faced by researchers during the conduct of qualitative research on sensitive topics, such as death and dying, sexuality, homelessness, HIV/AIDS, cancer. It provides practical recommendations for researchers and Research Ethics Committees. It will also be a useful resource for anyone interested in undertaking a research project on sensitive topics and for those teaching qualitative methods across a broad range of disciplines.
Author(s): Virginia Dickson-Swift, Erica Lyn James, Pranee Liamputtong
Edition: 1
Year: 2008
Language: English
Pages: 168
Cover......Page 1
Half-title......Page 3
Title......Page 5
Copyright......Page 6
Contents......Page 9
Preface......Page 11
Acknowledgements......Page 14
About the authors......Page 15
Defining sensitive research......Page 17
Historical developments of sensitive research......Page 19
Sensitivities......Page 21
The importance of sensitive research......Page 22
Planning a sensitive research project......Page 23
Implications of researching a sensitive topic......Page 25
Potential difficulties for the researcher......Page 26
Summary......Page 27
Suggested reading......Page 29
Debates in the philosophy of science......Page 31
Qualitative methodology......Page 35
Feminist frameworks......Page 36
Embodied research......Page 37
Subjectivity of qualitative research on sensitive topics......Page 38
Reflexivity......Page 40
Issue of intrusion......Page 41
Ethical issues......Page 42
Ethics of care and sensitive research......Page 43
Summary......Page 46
Tutorial activities......Page 47
Entering the lives of others......Page 49
Developing rapport......Page 52
Self-disclosure......Page 54
Reciprocity......Page 56
Being human and caring......Page 58
Untold stories......Page 60
Feeling privileged......Page 62
Developing attachments......Page 64
Feeling vulnerable......Page 65
Feeling guilty and the 'ethical hangover'......Page 66
Exhaustion......Page 67
Analyzing the data......Page 68
Summary......Page 69
Tutorial activities......Page 70
Defining boundaries......Page 71
Professional boundaries......Page 72
Boundaries between friendship and research......Page 74
Research or counselling/therapy and the 'quasitherapeutic' relationship......Page 78
Potential implications of poor boundary management......Page 83
Tutorial activities......Page 87
Defining emotions......Page 89
Emotions in research......Page 92
Emotion work theory......Page 94
Showing emotion......Page 96
Emotions and academia......Page 98
Emotions and embodied research......Page 101
Doing 'emotion work' in research......Page 103
Sources of emotion work in research......Page 104
Consequences of doing emotion work......Page 105
Tutorial activities......Page 109
Theorizing risk......Page 111
Confidentiality and anonymity......Page 112
Informed consent......Page 113
Risks and problems in sensitive research......Page 115
Emotional risks......Page 116
The importance of assessing risk......Page 117
Preparation for research......Page 119
Risk assessment and occupational health and safety......Page 123
Training, supervision and skill requirements......Page 125
Summary......Page 128
Tutorial activities......Page 129
7 Implications and recommendations for researchers......Page 131
What is a safety protocol for researchers?......Page 132
Recommendations for those transcribing interviews......Page 133
Recommendations for those supervising research (chief investigators/research leaders)......Page 137
Recommendations for research institutions......Page 138
Recommendations for funding bodies......Page 140
Summary......Page 141
Tutorial activities......Page 142
References......Page 143
Index......Page 165
