Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Sensitive Research Methodology and Approach: An Introduction

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:
Handbook of Research Methods in Health Social Sciences

Abstract

The goal of research is “that of discerning and uncovering the actual facts of [people]’ lives and experience, facts that have been hidden, inaccessible, suppressed, distorted, misunderstood, ignored” (Bergen 1993; Bergen 1996, p. 200).

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

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 649.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 849.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover 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

References

  • Abbink J, Salverda T. The anthropology of elites: power, culture, and the complexities of distinction. New York: Palgrave Macmillan; 2013.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Aguiar LLM, Schneider CJ. Researching amongst elites: challenges and opportunities in studying up. Hoboken: Taylor and Francis; 2013.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aldridge J. Working with vulnerable groups in social research: dilemmas by default and design. Qual Res. 2012;14(1):112–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aldridge J. Participatory research: working with vulnerable groups in research and practice. Bristol: Policy Press; 2015.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barnard M. Discomforting research: colliding moralities and looking for ‘truth’ in a study of parental drug problems. Sociol Health Illn. 2005;27(1):1–19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bergen RK. Interviewing survivors of marital rape: Doing feminist research on sensi- tive topics. In C. M. Renzetti & R. M. Lee (Eds.), Researching sensitive topics (pp. 197–211). Newbury Park, CA: Sage; 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bergen RK. Wife rape: understanding the responses of survivors and service provides. Thousand Oaks: Sage; 1996.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Birman D. Ethical issues in research with immigrants and refugees. In: Trimble JE, Fisher CB, editors. Handbook of ethical research with ethnocultural populations and communities. Thousand Oaks: Sage; 2005. p. 155–77.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bracken-Roche D, Bell E, Racine E. The “vulnerability” of psychiatric research participants: why this research ethics concept needs to be revisited. Can J Psychiatr. 2016;61:335–59.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bracken-Roche D, Bell E, McDonald ME, Racine E. The concept of ‘vulnerability’ in research ethics: an in-depth analysis of policies and guidelines. Health Res Policy Syst. 2017;5:8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-016-0164-6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell R. Emotionally involved: the impact of researching rape. New York: Routledge; 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  • Couch J, Durant B, Hill J. Uncovering marginalised knowledges: undertaking research with hard-to-reach young people. Int J Mult Res Approaches. 2014;8(1):15–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dickson-Swift V. Undertaking sensitive health research: The experiences of researchers. Unpublished PhD thesis, Department of Public Health, School of Health and Environment, La Trobe University, Bendigo, Australia; 2005.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dickson-Swift V, James E, Liamputtong P. Undertaking sensitive research in the health and social sciences: managing boundaries, emotions and risks. Cambridge, MA: Cambridge University Press; 2008.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Harvey WS. Strategies for conducting elite interviews. Qual Res. 2011;11(4):431–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson B, Clarke JM. Collecting sensitive data: the impact on researchers. Qual Health Res. 2003;13(3):421–34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee RM. Doing research on sensitive topics. London: Sage; 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee R, Lee Y. Methodological research on “sensitive” topics: a decade review. Bull Sociol Methodol. 2012;114(1):35–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liamputtong P. Researching the vulnerable: a guide to sensitive research methods. London: Sage; 2007.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Liamputtong P. Qualitative research methods. 4th ed. Melbourne: Oxford University Press; 2013.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCauley K. Vulnerable populations in research. In: Cautin RL, Lilienfeld SO, editors. The encyclopedia of clinical psychology. Hoboken: Wiley; 2015. p. 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118625392.wbecp214.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • McCosker H, Barnard A, Gerber R. Undertaking sensitive research: issues and strategies for meeting the safety needs of all participants. Qual Soc Res. 2001;2(1):327–53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Medeiros P. A guide for graduate students: barriers to conducting qualitative research among vulnerable groups. Conting Horiz: York Univ Stud J Anthropol. 2017; Retrieved on 4 July 2017 from https://contingenthorizons.com/2017/02/25/a-guide-for-graduate-students-barriers-to-conducting-qualitative-research-among-vulnerable-groups/.

  • Melrose M. Labour pains: some considerations on the difficulties of researching juvenile prostitution. Int J Soc Res Methodol. 2002;5(4):333–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Menih H. Applying ethical principles in researching a vulnerable population: homeless women in Brisbane. Current issues in. Crim Justice. 2013;25(1):527–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mikecz R. Interviewing elites: addressing methodological issues. Qual Inq. 2012;18(6):482–93.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Donnell P, Tierney E, O’Carroll A, Nurse D, MacFarlane A. Exploring levers and barriers to accessing primary care for marginalised groups and identifying their priorities for primary care provision: a participatory learning and action research study. Int J Equity Health. 2016;15:197. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-016-0487-5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Odendahl T, Shaw AM. Interviewing elites. In: Gubrium JF, Holstein JA, editors. Handbook of interview research: context & method. Thousand Oaks: Sage; 2002. p. 299–316.

    Google Scholar 

  • Payne G, Payne J. Key concepts in social research. Sage key concepts. London: Sage; 2004.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Pitts MK, Smith AMA, editors. Researching the margins: strategies for ethical and rigorous research with marginalised communities. London: Palgrave Macmillan; 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  • Punch S. Research with children: the same or different from research with adults. Childhood. 2002;9(3):321–41.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quest T, Marco CA. Ethics seminars: vulnerable populations in emergency medicine research. Acad Emerg Med. 2001;10(11):1294–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Quinn CR. General considerations for research with vulnerable populations: ten lessons for success. Health Justice. 2015;3:1. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40352-014-0013-z.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Renzetti CM, Lee RM, editors. Researching sensitive topics. Newbury Park: Sage; 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schrems BM. Informed consent, vulnerability and the risks of group-specific attribution. Nurs Ethics. 2014;21:829–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shivayogi P. Vulnerable population and methods for their safeguard. Perspect Clin Res. 2013;4(1):53–7. https://doi.org/10.4103/2229-3485.106389.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Solomon SR. Protecting and respecting the vulnerable: existing regulations or further protections? Theor Med Bioeth. 2013;34:17–28.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stephens N. Collecting data from elites and ultra elites: telephone and face-to-face interviews with macroeconomists. Qual Res. 2007;7(2):203–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stone TH. The invisible vulnerable: the economically and educationally disadvantaged subjects of clinical research. J Law Med Ethics. 2003;31(1):149–53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Straubhaar R. The methodological benefits of social media: “studying up” in Brazil in the Facebook age. Int J Qual Stud Educ. 2015;28(9):1081–96.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor P. Talking to terrorists: a personal journey from the IRA to Al Qaeda. London: Harper Press; 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  • ten Have H. Respect for human vulnerability: the emergence of a new principle in bioethics. J Bioeth Inq. 2015;12:395–408.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ten Have H. Vulnerability: challenging bioethics. Abingdon: Routledge; 2016.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • van Liempt I, Bilger V. The ethics of migration research methodology: dealing with vulnerable migrants. Brighton: Sussex Academic Press; 2009.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams C. Researching power, elites and leadership. London: Sage; 2012.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Wrigley A, Dawson A. Vulnerability and marginalized populations. In: Barrett DH, Ortmann LW, Dawson A, Saenz C, Reis A, Bolan G, editors. Public health ethics: cases spanning the globe. Dordrecht: Springer Open; 2016. p. 203–40. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-23847-0_7.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Zuckerman H. Scientific elite. Transaction: New Brunswick; 1996.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia

    Pranee Liamputtong

Authors
  1. Pranee Liamputtong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pranee Liamputtong .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia

    Pranee Liamputtong

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Liamputtong, P. (2019). Sensitive Research Methodology and Approach: An Introduction. In: Liamputtong, P. (eds) Handbook of Research Methods in Health Social Sciences. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-5251-4_122

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation