Undertaking qualitative research on trauma: impacts on researchers and guidelines for risk management

Abstract

PurposeUndertaking qualitative research exploring experiences of trauma can be challenging for all members of a research team. The aim of this article is to document the key challenges faced by researchers and to provide an overview of the key guidelines and processes that have been developed.Design/methodology/approachDrawing on a range of empirical and published reflective accounts over the past 20 years, this article documents the key challenges researchers undertaking qualitative research face. These accounts are synthesized for the reader and an overview of research guidelines provided.FindingsQualitative researchers and members of the research team (including research assistants, transcriptionists and research supervisors) undertaking trauma research face many challenges including physical and emotional manifestations. Despite the development of a range of guidelines and protocols, formalized processes are still lacking. Researchers need to be supported to consider the impact of the research on themselves and others within the research team and include these assessments in their ethics and funding applications.Research limitations/implicationsResearching trauma (like many other topics) can be challenging for researchers and it is important that we ensure researchers are not harmed in the research process. Adopting guidelines like those presented in this paper and encouraging formalized processes for researcher risk assessments are paramount.Originality/valueDiscussions about risk to researchers when undertaking qualitative research have existed for many years but they have not always resulted in acknowledgement of development of supportive processes. By bringing together empirical research and reflective accounts from a range of disciplines the issues researchers face can become more visible.

Guest editorial: Investigating trauma: methodological, emotional and ethical challenges for the qualitative researcher

“…Finally, we include two contributions that highlight the impacts of this type of sensitive research on researchers and offer guidelines and recommendations. Dickson-Swift (2022) paper offers guidelines and protocols for qualitative trauma researchers and their teams. Dickson–Swift draws on 20 years of experience in researching sensitive topics – the empirical studies she has conducted and her publications – and the trauma research literature to document the critical challenges of the qualitative researcher who undertakes trauma research and offer guidelines and processes for managing the risks.…”