Sensitively researching vulnerable populations—reflections from the field

Declan Fahie

Chapter 18 in Handbook of Sensitive Research in the Social Sciences, 2025, pp 254-264 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Drawing on the author's experience as an academic and researcher, this chapter highlights the very real challenges (and potential pitfalls) that can present when researching topics considered ‘sensitive.’ While acknowledging that all topics are potentially sensitive, the essential nature of some areas of scholarship (suicide, abuse, bullying, serious illness, for example) means that potential research participants may, for example, be difficult to reach/access. More importantly, while for some such participants, the research process may prove cathartic, for others, it may be (re)traumatizing—forcing them to revisit distressing personal experiences and forensically articulate their impact to a relative stranger. This chapter recognises a fundamental ethical dilemma faced by all research practitioners—the legitimate need to gather high-quality, raw data while, at the same time, consistently behaving in an ethical/moral manner. Underpinned by the author's professional lived experiences, the chapter highlights some of the practical challenges that can arise when investigating sensitive subjects, including consent, ethical approval, authenticity, and power. It concludes with a number of practical suggestions for researchers working within this field.

Keywords: Sensitive research; Vulnerable populations; Research ethics; Qualitative methods; Workplace bullying (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
ISBN: 9781035315222
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