Limitations in Research on Human Trafficking

Datos Bibliográficos

ID9954583
AutoresGuri Tyldum (0000-0002-4829-615X, Fafo Foundation, autor de correspondencia)
Año2010
Volumen48
Número5
Páginas1-13
Fecha de publicación2010-08-30
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaInternational Migration (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0020-7985 • E-ISSN: 1468-2435
EditorialWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/j.1468-2435.2009.00597.x
OpenAlexW1923795161
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas49
Referencias citadas7

In this article I point to some common pitfalls and particular challenges in research on human trafficking. I start out by presenting some of the challenges in identifying observable populations and behaviours, arguing that primary data collection in the trafficking field should focus on former victims, and not current victims or persons at risk. Thereafter I discuss some of the factors that have inhibited the development and use of explicit operational definitions of trafficking. Third, I present some of the challenges in identification of trafficking victims, when the victims themselves do not want to identify with the trafficking label. Finally, the usefulness of different research strategies in the trafficking fields for the current knowledge‐needs is discussed. The article concludes that there will always be some limitations and biases in empirical research in the trafficking field. However, as long as we acknowledge these limitations and make them explicit in our research, sound empirical research that enhances our knowledge in this field is possible. The best potential for good quality research lies in small‐scale, thematically focused empirical studies, while attempts to describe worldwide trafficking across regions and arenas is less likely to be successful

Biology · Criminology · Data science · Empirical research · Epistemology · Field (mathematics · Human trafficking · Identification (biology · Political science · Scale (ratio · Sociology · Computer Science · HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk · Sex work and related issues · Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology