Social street work: intervention method as a research method in sensitive research?

Tiago A. Lobo-Dos-Santos

Chapter 7 in Handbook of Sensitive Research in the Social Sciences, 2025, pp 93-114 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Social street work (SSW) is an intervention methodology that targets vulnerable populations by outreaching and accompanying individuals or groups in their natural contexts. Thus, social street workers define themselves as practitioners, not academics or researchers. In addition, existing literature on SSW focuses on assessing SSW outputs rather than SSW as a construct. SSW is not (explicitly) framed—either by social street workers or academics/researchers—as a research method per se. In this chapter, I argue that there are sturdy advantages in conceptualising SSW (especially educational) not only as an intervention method, but also as a research method. I illustrate this argument with examples drawn from my research with Romani children and youths in Portugal (Calons/Ciganos) as well as literature from different fields. A contribution to methodological advancement and innovation in social sciences is sought. An epistemological exercise based on insights drawn from action-research practices supports the argument developed. Ultimately, the goal of this chapter is to improve outcomes for people in sensitive contexts and situations through research that explicitly utilises and benefits from SSW as a method, methodology, and technique.

Keywords: Social street work (SSW); Outreach; Mixed methods research; Methodological advancement; Methodology; Roma; Romani youth; Calons; Ciganos (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
ISBN: 9781035315222
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