Research In Hostile/Challenging Environments: From Consent To The Management Of Guilt

Conducting research in the field can be one of the most ethically fraught experiences of your career (maybe even life), and this can become even more salient if you are working with populations that are in some ways marginal and/or vulnerable. This episode should be especially useful to PhD students/early year researchers who are about to enter the field and would like to know about some of the ethical/moral challenges that they will face. We tackle:

What does ‘informed’ consent really mean? And is it truly possible?

How do you navigate feelings of guilt?

Will your research have an impact on you?

What does the blurring of boundaries mean for you as a researcher and as a person?

Does it have implications for your own sense of identity?

Why do your previous experiences/perspectives matter?

I consider myself an ethnographic researcher looking into the experiences of rough sleepers here in Manchester. To help me discuss some of these complex questions I’m joined by phenomenological researcher Dr Steve Kelsey, who’s PhD was titled A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study of the Lived Experience of Homeless Men. Steve has been working in the field of people and organisation development for over 25 years. Today he works around the world with organisations to deliver innovative development programmes, supporting strategic change and coaching business leaders. He brings his knowledge from psychology and a deep understanding of business to help solve problems and challenge unhelpful paradigms. His approach is both dynamic and sensitive, always aimed at discovering the root cause of issues and creating positive change. Outside of his work, Steve spends much of his time teaching martial arts and travelling back to Japan, where he lived for 10 years.

You can see one of Steve’s pieces on homelessness for the Guardian here: https://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/2016/jun/13/my-phd-on-homelessness-is-heartbreaking-and-humbling

You can reach Steve here: kestrelinnovations@gmail.com