Expanding on Notions of Ethical Risks to Qualitative Researchers

Abstract

Although qualitative research ethics have typically focused on participant risk, there is a growing recognition that researchers themselves face ethical risks, including the emotional impacts of research on sensitive topics. There is still considerable room for discussion about what it means to conduct sensitive research and how researchers are impacted by such work. In my research about nursing work, I encountered unexpected ethical challenges. These situations included hearing and responding to disagreeable participant statements, listening to distressing stories, managing the high expectations of research participants in terms of the purpose and outcomes of the research, and facing my own potential professional marginalization because of the political nature of my research. By extant definitions, my research might not be considered sensitive. As well, I faced consequences beyond emotional harms. Thus, I propose a broadened understanding of sensitivities in research and their consequences in order to acknowledge the potential for researchers’ ethical distress in all qualitative research.