Contextual Vulnerability of the Researcher: Reflections on Methodology

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  • Tytuł: Contextual Vulnerability of the Researcher: Reflections on Methodology
  • Autor/Autorzy:
  • Nazwa czasopisma: International Journal of Qualitative Methods
  • Rok: 2025
  • Tom: 24
  • ISSN: 1609-4069
  • e-ISSN: 1609-4069
  • DOI: 10.1177/16094069251343139
  • Adres www:: https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069251343139
  • Strony od-do: 1-10
  • Abstrakt: Qualitative research requires careful reflection on the researcher’s role throughout the research process, as it is shaped by the researcher’s interaction with the field, especially in comparison to quantitative research. However, there remains a need for greater exploration of how the qualitative research context shapes the researcher’s ability to navigate the field, experience fieldwork, interact with participants, and manage their emotional well-being. This article addresses three groups of factors affecting researcher vulnerability: first, factors related to the emotional response that the information obtained during the research evokes in the researcher; second, the situational context in which the researcher conducts their studies; and third, the attitude of the research institutions within which these studies are conducted towards the first two groups of factors. The most important factors discussed within the first group are those related to vicarious or secondary trauma experienced by the researcher. Within the second group, phenomena belonging to the general category of vulnerable research will be discussed - both traditional field studies and studies conducted in the online space. In the third group, the actions of research institutions that should take place to prevent or reduce the difficulties discussed in the first two groups of factors will be examined.
  • Dyscyplina: psychologia
  • 002 a Contextual Vulnerability of the Researcher: Reflections on Methodology
  • 003 b 0000-0003-2751-3204
  • 003 a Gilda Seddighi (Autor)
  • 003 a HALINA GRZYMAŁA-MOSZCZYŃSKA (Autor)
  • 003 a Morta Vidūnaitė (Autor)
  • 004 a Oryginalny artykuł naukowy
  • 006 a International Journal of Qualitative Methods
  • 008 a 2025
  • 009 a 24
  • 011 a 1609-4069
  • 012 a 1609-4069
  • 013 a 10.1177/16094069251343139
  • 014 a https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069251343139
  • 015 a 1-10
  • 020 a Qualitative research requires careful reflection on the researcher’s role throughout the research process, as it is shaped by the researcher’s interaction with the field, especially in comparison to quantitative research. However, there remains a need for greater exploration of how the qualitative research context shapes the researcher’s ability to navigate the field, experience fieldwork, interact with participants, and manage their emotional well-being. This article addresses three groups of factors affecting researcher vulnerability: first, factors related to the emotional response that the information obtained during the research evokes in the researcher; second, the situational context in which the researcher conducts their studies; and third, the attitude of the research institutions within which these studies are conducted towards the first two groups of factors. The most important factors discussed within the first group are those related to vicarious or secondary trauma experienced by the researcher. Within the second group, phenomena belonging to the general category of vulnerable research will be discussed - both traditional field studies and studies conducted in the online space. In the third group, the actions of research institutions that should take place to prevent or reduce the difficulties discussed in the first two groups of factors will be examined.
  • 022 a fieldwork challenges
  • 022 a online research
  • 022 a research ethics
  • 022 a researcher vulnerability
  • 022 a secondary and vicarious trauma
  • 966 a psychologia
  • 985 a Wydział Filozoficzny
  • 985 b Instytut Psychologii

2025_art_Grzymała-Moszczyńska_H_Seddighi_G_Vidunaite_M_Contextual Vulnerability of the Researcher_Reflections on Methodology.pdf (554 KB)

  • Licence: CC BY-NC 4.0
  • Text version: Final published
  • Availability: Public
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Repozytorium Akademii Ignatianum w Krakowie, które jest częścią Portalu Pracowniczego zostało zrealizowane w ramach projektu „Program wzmocnienia potencjału dydaktycznego Uczelni na rzecz rozwoju regionalnego” POWR.03.05.00-00-ZR10/18 współfinansowanego ze środków Unii Europejskiej w ramach Europejskiego Funduszu Społecznego.