Qualitative Research In Social Sciences

Research in social sciences cover a wide spectrum of issues, involves variegated forms of data and perspectives that may influence the feelings, perspectives, attitudes and values people in the research process may hold (McCosker et al., 2001). The practicality of methodologies in research affect how people involved in the research feel. Qualitative researches aimed at investigating social phenomenon employ research instruments such as interviews, focus group discussions and observation (Beck, 2016). As suggested by Farberow (1963) such researches may study subject matters that inspire feelings of dread or awe and may incite melancholy in some cases. These topics of study may be confidential, (Lee, 1993), may inspire stigmatization if doled

In the process of conducting research, they are exposed to many threats which include physical threat. This form of threat is evident in violent research settings (Lee, 1993). This could be presentational where the researcher’s presence incites hostility towards the research, the research participant and any other person or anonymous where the research is in a dangerous environment to conduct research. An ethical approach to circumventing or dealing with this threat is to withdraw from the research setting and resort to secondary data for the research and none reactive sources. This however has an impact on originality of research since researchers may not be able to obtain primary data which is rich in content and detail for a research. There may also be the issue of occupational stigmatization where the domain of a researcher’s study may attract public ridicule or may be seen to venture into unacceptable terrains (Plummer, 1981; Troiden, 1989). Adding to this, the works of researchers who investigate sensitive topics are trivialized (Lee, 1993: 9). Adding to the above, researchers may be sidelined from receiving promotions at their jobs places due to fears of controversies that may arise due to their research

Though related, they are distinct (Wiles et al, 2006). Confidentiality according to the concise oxford dictionary is ‘spoken or written in confidence; charged with secrets’ whilst anonymity is regarded as “unknown authorship or name’. It is similar to a principle of privacy (Gregory, 2003). In conducting research that may be pose threats, it is very key to uphold the confidentiality and anonymity of research participants. Assuring the research subjects of their identity being kept from the public is a key to protecting the participant from any harm which will motivate them to fully indulge in the research process. Indemnity from this is motivational. In referring to participants in such instances, researcher can adopt pseudo names to protect the identity of the participants. This is important in cases where such researches are made available to the public. Though anonymity is a strong guarantee to protecting the identity of research participants, it becomes difficult to ensure this when participants have to be restudied (Web Center for Social Research, 2006). Furthermore, security measures should be put in place to protect both researcher and participant whiles ensuring confidentiality. For example, in conducting an interview, the researcher may choose as soundproof setting to ensure no other party is privy to the details of the