Skip to main content

The Case for Qualitative Designs in Human Trafficking Research

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Human Trafficking: A Global Health Emergency
  • 258 Accesses

Abstract

This chapter describes the use of qualitative research designs and methods in expanding the knowledge base about human trafficking. An overview of the designs is presented, and the usual methods of data collection are described. Relevant disciplines were examined for recent theses and dissertations that relate to the topic. A few studies were selected for a brief description in order to give readers a sense of what is being studied in their own fields. Qualitative studies have merit on their own—that is, they are sufficient to tell a story without planning further study on the topic with that sample. Qualitative studies can also be the foundation for building theory. Human trafficking is such a complex phenomenon that both types of qualitative research are needed even as the search continues for best practices in prevention and intervention through quantitative designs.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 79.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Johnson J, Adkins D, Chauvin S (2020) Qualitative research in pharmacy education. Am J Pharm Educ 84(1):138–146

    Google Scholar 

  2. Murray L (2022) Social workers’ knowledge of the psychological impact of the aftermath of human trafficking: a grounded theory approach. Doctoral dissertation, Yeshiva University

    Google Scholar 

  3. Findley K (2018) Trafficking in persons for the removal of organs in India. Rutgers. https://doi.org/10.7282/t3-n3f4-g639

  4. Lyons A (2021) Child welfare assessments with human trafficking victims: an action research study. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing, Capella University

    Google Scholar 

  5. Mulhern M (2014) Social work student perceptions of labor trafficking. HIM 1990–2015. p 1605. https://stars.library.ucf.edu/honorstheses1990-2015/1605

  6. Ray N (2008) Vulnerability to human trafficking: a qualitative study. Retrospective Theses and Dissertations. p 17. https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/etd_restrict/1. Accessed 1 Mar 2023

  7. Broad R (2016) A study of individuals convicted for human trafficking offenses through the UK criminal justice system: characteristics, relationships and criminal justice perspectives. University of Manchester. https://pure.manchester.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/54550328/FULL_TEXT.PDF. Accessed 1 Mar 2023

  8. Van Der Watt M (2018) Investigating human trafficking for sexual exploitation: from lived experiences towards a com plex systems understanding. University of South Africa. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/24803. Accessed 1 Mar 2023

  9. Loibl EC (2019) The transnational illegal adoption market: a criminological study of the German and Dutch intercountry adoption systems. Doctoral thesis, Maastricht University, Eleven International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.26481/dis.20190515el

  10. Gaitis K (2020) How is human trafficking regulated in the UK? A critical examination of the UK’s anti-trafficking response. University of Edinburgh. https://hdl.handle.net/1842/38089. Accessed 1 Mar 2023

  11. Al-Zoubi MYY (2015) An analysis of the crime of trafficking in persons under international law with a special focus on Jordanian legislation. Brunel University. http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/12138. Accessed 1 Mar 2023

  12. Kinney EM (2011) Stuck in traffic: sexual politics and criminal injustice in social movements against human trafficking. UC Berkeley. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4115c8f8. Accessed 1 Mar 2023

  13. Sultan A (2020) Analysis on bonded labour and slavery in Pakistan. Near East University Institute of Graduate Studies International Law. http://docs.neu.edu.tr/library/8512230575.pdf. Accessed 1 Mar 2023

  14. Morris C (2020) A qualitative study of the lived relational experiences of sex trafficked women. University of Nevada-Reno. https://scholarworks.unr.edu//handle/11714/7461. Accessed 1 Mar 2023

  15. Williams J (2017) Human trafficking survivors: aftercare services and institutional betrayal: a qualitative perspective on the effectiveness of a victim advocacy program. University of Missouri-Columbia. https://hdl.handle.net/10355/61971

  16. Thomas DA (2022) A phenomenological study exploring the lived experiences of professionals supporting minor-aged human trafficking survivors in northeast nonmetropolitan communities. Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. p 3805. https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/3805. Accessed 1 Mar 2023

  17. Spires R (2012) Human trafficking and education: a qualitative case study of two NGP programs in Thailand. University of Georgia. http://getd.libs.uga.edu/pdfs/spires_robert_w_201205_phd.pdf. Accessed 1 Mar 2023

  18. Recknor F (2017) Human trafficking: responses by the public health and health care sectors. Texas Medical Center Dissertations (via ProQuest). AAI10272312. https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/dissertations/AAI10272312. Accessed 1 Mar 2023

  19. Ashi AI (2020) The lived experience of child marriage and its health effects among young mothers in Nigeria. Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. p 9045. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/9045. Accessed 1 Mar 2023

  20. Lipkin Leveque N (2017) The health of human trafficking victims in San Diego, California: a retrospective study. Dissertations, University of San Diego. p 65. https://digital.sandiego.edu/dissertations/65. Accessed 1 Mar 2023

  21. Ernewein C (2021) Survivors of human trafficking: reintegration into the community and society. Electronic Theses and Dissertations. p 1324. https://stars.library.ucf.edu/etd2020/1324. Accessed 1 Mar 2023

  22. Ceasar D (2019) Intersections of human trafficking and the opioid epidemic, and barriers to data collection in human trafficking. Harvard University. http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:41971532. Accessed 1 Mar 2023

  23. Konneh S (2017) An exploration of efforts to combat human trafficking in a small community. Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. p 3793. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/3793. Accessed 1 Mar 2023

  24. Price KA (2019) Defining worthy victims: state-level legislative decisions to prevent the criminalization of commercially sexually exploited children in the United States. Graduate Doctoral Dissertations. p 515. https://scholarworks.umb.edu/doctoral_dissertations/515. Accessed 1 Mar 2023

  25. Alves CDB (2020) A qualitative analysis of survivors’ experiences with sex trafficking in health and health care sectors. Southern Illinois University. https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/dissertations/1839/. Accessed 1 Mar 2023

  26. Wilson R (2021) The role of Oath-taking in human trafficking experiences of survivors. http://hdl.handle.net/2299/25192. Accessed 1 Mar 2023

  27. Laurento RA (2021) Psychological coercion among trafficked sex workers: a grounded study approach. Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. p 9967. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/9967. Accessed 1 Mar 2023

  28. Poucki S (2012) The quest for root causes of human trafficking: a study on the experience of marginalized groups, with a focus on the Republic of Serbia. Rutgers. https://rucore.libraries.rutgers.edu/rutgers-lib/39103/PDF/1/play/. Accessed 1 Mar 2023

  29. Marconi V (2020) Demystifying the sensationalism of human trafficking: an anthropological study on the systemic exploitation of migrant labor in Tuscany, Italy. Oregon State University

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

de Chesnay, M. (2023). The Case for Qualitative Designs in Human Trafficking Research. In: de Chesnay, M., Sabella, D. (eds) Human Trafficking: A Global Health Emergency. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-33875-5_29

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-33875-5_29

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-33874-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-33875-5

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics