Care and concern in the research process: meeting ethical and epistemological challenges through multiple engagements and dialogue with research subjects

• Published in: Qualitative research : QR Vol. 18; no. 6; pp. 706 - 721
• Main Authors: Sörensson, Erika, Kalman, Hildur
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.12.2018; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Cross-cultural cross-language research; Data collection; epistemic and ethical responsibility; Epistemology; Feminism; feminist epistemology; Migrants; Migration; participatory methods; Photography; Research ethics; research process; Research subjects; researcher position; standpoint theory; standpoint theory; participatory methods; researcher position; Cross-cultural cross-language research; epistemic and ethical responsibility; feminist epistemology; research process
• ISSN: 1468-7941; 1741-3109; 1741-3109
• DOI: 10.1177/1468794117743466

By addressing a case of data collection strategies applied in research on Thai migration to the Swedish wild-berry industry, this article argues for how a feminist approach based on care and concern for research subjects both safeguards ethical concerns and promotes good knowing. The data collection procedures were designed in a step-by-step manner, including the research subjects as much as possible at different times and in different ways in an attempt to create preconditions for a more inclusive production of knowledge. In-depth interviews, participant observation, photo documentation and group interviews were used, which facilitated the possibility to understand the content and meanings of wild-berry picking from the workers’ points of view. Through prolonged contact, including repeated encounters and dialogue with research subjects, in-depth knowledge was produced concerning Thai migrations to Sweden, as migration was set in relation to the migrants’ life courses and living conditions.