Vulnerable Research: Competencies for Trauma and Justice-Informed Ethnography

Abstract

Ethnographers often work with individuals who are physically, psychologically, spiritually, and/or structurally vulnerable. The article introduces six competencies for ethnographers to be trained in and assessed on to ensure their research is trauma and justice-informed. The author builds from her own research experiences, current methodological approaches to qualitative inquiry, and an integration of sociology and psychology to detail these competencies and provide tools for training and assessment. The competencies include the following: (a) self-awareness; (b) participant-centered approach; (c) recognition of social location; (d) attention to trauma; (e) knowledge of professional limits; and (f) effective boundaries and self-care. The six competencies and Action-reflection course outlined in the article are designed to support researchers in attending to how their personal histories, embodied states, and power dynamics shape the research endeavor, as well as, learn skills for healthy boundary-keeping, risk assessment, and steps to minimize participant (re)traumatization. Although these competencies are essential for work with disempowered populations, they are beneficial for all qualitative researchers to ensure both personal and participant safety.