Sensitive, Challenging, and Difficult Topics: Experiences and Practical Considerations for Qualitative Researchers

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Silverio, Sergio A ORCID: 0000-0001-7177-3471, Sheen, Kayleigh S, Bramante, Alessandra, Knighting, Katherine, Koops, Thula U, Montgomery, Elsa, November, Lucy, Soulsby, Laura K, Stevenson, Jasmin H, Watkins, Megan et al (show 2 more authors) , Easter, Abigail and Sandall, Jane (2022) Sensitive, Challenging, and Difficult Topics: Experiences and Practical Considerations for Qualitative Researchers. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF QUALITATIVE METHODS, 21. p. 160940692211247.

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/16094069221124739

Abstract

<jats:p>Qualitative researchers often engage in work addressing challenging, difficult, or sensitive topics and are consequently exposed to the participants’ narratives which may be emotionally charged, distressing, or compromising. These narratives occasionally rest heavy on a researcher’s conscience or may linger in the mind. Much literature has assessed how best to keep participants safe, but less attention has been given to how we keep researchers safe. We therefore document the following: (1) Our experiences of the issues presented by undertaking qualitative research involving challenging, difficult, or sensitive topics; and (2) Practical principles devised to overcome these issues, ensuring safety and wellbeing amongst researchers engaging in these types of qualitative research. We provide guidance for qualitative researchers of all levels of experience and expertise on how best to protect and support themselves, their colleagues, and other collaborating research staff, when undertaking qualitative research which might otherwise feel uncomfortable or overwhelming to tackle.</jats:p>

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	qualitative research, interviews, focus groups, sensitive information, supervision, researcher burnout, research fatigue, secondary trauma, traumatic stress, qualitative praxis, qualitative methods, researcher safety and wellbeing
Divisions:	Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Population Health
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	06 Feb 2023 16:51
Last Modified:	26 Jul 2023 23:28
DOI:	10.1177/16094069221124739
Open Access URL:	https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069221124739
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3168217