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Publication
“Through the looking glass”: the emotional journey of the volunteer ethnographer when researching sensitive topics with vulnerable populations
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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
This paper extends further research on being both a volunteer and ethnographic researcher and intends to
offer some insights on the emotional challenges of adopting this dual role when conducting research on
sensitive topics and with vulnerable populations. The discussion presented here draws upon an ethnographic
participant observation study of a food redistribution organization (Re-food) held in Lisbon, the capital of
Portugal. The paper builds awareness on the emotional challenges in the field and discusses potential selfreflective
strategies for researchers to cope with the extraordinary demands posed on them by specific
circumstances and subjects. The volunteer ethnographer, when developing their work, is subject to a wide
range of emotional challenges that are related to the functions that they had to develop in the research context
itself due to their dual role, as well as to the vulnerability of participants and the sensitivity of the topic
addressed.
Description
Keywords
Volunteer Ethnographer Sensitive Topics Vulnerable Subjects Emotions Food Poverty
Pedagogical Context
Citation
Augusto, F. R., Hilário, A. P. (2019). “Through the Looking Glass”: The Emotional Journey of the Volunteer Ethnographer when Researching Sensitive Topics with Vulnerable Populations.The Qualitative Report, 24(13), 17-30