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

by Virginia Dickson-Swift , Erica Lyn James , Pranee Liamputtong

• ISBN13: 9780521718233
• ISBN10: 0521718236
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-09-15
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

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.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. ix
Acknowledgments	p. xii
About the authors	p. xiii
What is sensitive research?	p. 1
Doing sensitive research: methodological, theoretical, ethical and moral perspectives	p. 15
Conducting a sensitive research project	p. 33
Managing boundaries in sensitive research	p. 55
Emotions and sensitive research	p. 73
Managing risks and ethics in research	p. 95
Implications and recommendations for researchers	p. 115
References	p. 127
Index	p. 149
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