Methodological Challenges in Qualitative Research: Reflections from a Study on Male Victims of Intimate Partner Violence
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62656/Keywords:
Qualitative research, reflexivity, ethical considerations, ethical challenges, vulnerable, fieldwork in virtual spaceAbstract
Ethical prerequisites are a significant concern for researchers, which calls for maintaining professional standards when conducting research with human participants. Qualitative studies have been highly debated due to the need to generalise the study results, contrary to quantitative research, which follows a scientific route in research. However, qualitative research has gained credibility over time because of the ethical rigour in ensuring the human participants' purpose and rights, caution for potential risks, and using virtuous protocols throughout the investigation (Arifin, 2018; Sanjari et al., 2014). The academic protocol provided by UGC Mulya Pravah 2.0, as recommended by NEP 2020, is focused on following professional ethics and fair academic research practices due to concerns about ethical issues in the scholastic environment (University Grants Commission, 2023). The paper examines and discusses ethical challenges and issues in qualitative research, such as ethical considerations, procedural steps, field experience, and the researcher's reflexivity when working with a vulnerable community. Additionally, reflections from the fieldwork (fieldwork in virtual space) are discussed to illustrate the practical challenges experienced during the data collection, analysis, and interpretation of the qualitative research data. The study explores intimate partner violence as experienced by the participants (victims of violence are men in the present study) and highlights the impact of trauma on their well-being. This paper sheds light on moral dilemmas and ethical shortcomings during the procedural steps while navigating the qualitative fieldwork with vulnerable participants, which helps define the importance of considering ethical sensitivity before proceeding with the study.
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