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