Which Research Methodology for an Exploratory Study on a Sensitive Political Issue, Involving a Vulnerable Population?
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22428156 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Marion Feldman (0000-0002-5370-9676, Université Paris Nanterre, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Pages | 1-9 |
| Publication date | 2026-07-15 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Ethics and Social Welfare (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1749-6535 • E-ISSN: 1749-6543 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/17496535.2026.2684774 |
| OpenAlex | W7168365374 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 19 |
Conducting research on sensitive political subjects involving vulnerable populations necessitates a profound shift in methodology. This article examines the forced transfer of children from Reunion Island to France (1962–1984), analyzing the psychological impact of state policy. Over a four-year exploratory phase, the study establishes six fundamental clinical principles: observation, immersion, empathy, tact, and a phenomenological approach. The final principle ensures scientific rigor through dual validation: the step-by-step restitution of findings to participants and a systematic analysis of researcher subjectivity. This work provides an ethical, rigorous model for engaging with traumatized groups within the social sciences.
Exploratory research · Politics · Research methodology · Restitution · Social research · Participatory Visual Research Methods · Qualitative Research Methods and Ethics · Social Representations and Identity
Interpretative phenomenological analysis.
Children as co-researchers. Epistemological, methodological and ethical challenges
Reflexivity as a means to address researcher vulnerabilities
Racial microaggression experiences and coping strategies of Black women in corporate leadership
Traumatic memories as black holes
Methodological reflections in contexts of social vulnerability
Revisiting reflexivity
De la méthodologie aux méthodes de recherche (et non l’inverse)
Learning “To Be” Kinyarwanda in Postgenocide Rwanda
Les critères de scientificité en recherche qualitative
Criteria for assessing the trustworthiness of naturalistic inquiries
The continuum of rapport
Research as care
Research with institutionalized populations
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |