Researcher vulnerability: doing qualitative research in sensitive fields as mental health professionals

Annette Binder

Chapter 19 in Handbook of Sensitive Research in the Social Sciences, 2025, pp 265-280 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: This chapter examines researcher vulnerabilities that can arise when healthcare professionals conduct qualitative research in sensitive areas. The presented considerations are based on the experiences and results from a research project on alcohol consumption during pregnancy. As part of the research project, discussions from online forums and telephone interviews were analysed using grounded theory methodology. The researchers were simultaneously active in the research and also professionally active in clinical care (psychotherapy and counselling). The particular focus of this chapter is on the multifaceted roles carried out by a therapist or doctor, in contrast to the role of solely being a researcher, and the stress that may result from this complexity. The chapter also highlights the responsibility of researchers and supervisors to recognise and reflect upon the possible burdens arising from the different, sometimes conflicting, roles. Finally, possible ways to reduce such burdens are discussed.

Keywords: Qualitative research; Vulnerability; Reflexivity; Mental health; Burden (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
ISBN: 9781035315222
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