Undertaking Sensitive Research in the Health and Social Sciences: Managing Boundaries, Emotions and Risks

Description

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.

Virginia Dickson-Swift is a Lecturer in Public Health, School of Public Health, La Trobe University, Australia. Erica Lyn James is a Senior Research Academic, Centre for Health Research and Psycho-oncology (CHeRP), Cancer Council New South Wales/University of Newcastle, Australia. Pranee Liamputtong is a Personal Chair in Public Health, School of Public Health, La Trobe University, Australia.

'Discussion of the impact on the researcher of carrying out sensitive research has been muted. This volume certainly fills the void and is one which I would recommend to all researchers about to embark on a qualitative project - whether the subject is of an overtly 'sensitive' nature or not. ... an extensively referenced, enjoyable, engaging and informative text and should be on the bookshelves of all qualitative researchers - and, especially, supervisors.' Sociology of Health & Illness