Researching the Margins : Strategies for Ethical and Rigorous Research With Marginalised Communities

Social researchers are increasingly aware of their obligations to the 'hard to reach' communities they research. This book identifies the issues associated with researching these communities and offers both conceptual analyses and practical suggestions. The contributors are members of ARCSHS staff or drawn from the affected communities themselves. How do I recruit participants to a study of homeless people? How should I disseminate my research findings to HIV positive people? What issues are important when carrying out research with people with intellectual disabilities? Questions such as these highlight how challenging it can be for researchers working with marginalised communities. Increasingly, social researchers are engaging with such communities and becoming aware of their obligations to those with whom they research. This book identifies issues associated with researching in what have traditionally been recognised as 'hard to reach' communities and offers both conceptual analyses and practical suggestions. The book reflects the innovative approach of the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, which achieved an international reputation for its groundbreaking work with marginalised communities which emphasises the experience and contribution of those with whom the research is undertaken. The contributors, who are experienced researchers and experts in the area, are members of ARCSHS or are drawn from the affected communities themselves Front Matter....Pages i-xvi Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Researching the Margins: An Introduction....Pages 3-41 Front Matter....Pages 43-43 Knowledge, Relationships and Identity in Research on Drug Use....Pages 45-65 From the Outside Looking in — Illuminating Research with Lesbians....Pages 66-83 Research with People with Intellectual Disabilities....Pages 84-95 Research in a Post-colonial World: The Example of Australian Aborigines....Pages 96-113 Duty of Care: Researching with Vulnerable Young People....Pages 114-129 Methodological and Ethical Issues in Conducting Research with Older People....Pages 130-142 Social Research with HIV Positive Populations: A Conversation....Pages 143-159 Who’s on Whose Margins?....Pages 160-189 Back Matter....Pages 190-208