[en] The Special Collection will focus on examples (theoretical, empirical or methodological) of research with and for people in vulnerable situations, by putting them in the centre of active research. People in vulnerable situations are perceiving and/or experiencing multi-layered, embedded situational, structural or individual vulnerabilities. They are often hard to reach and need specific, innovative and sensitive research approaches by recognizing them as experts of their own challenges and topics to do justice to their vulnerable situations. These might foster empowerment, transformative practices, and emancipatory perspectives for people in vulnerable situations. This guest editor’s introduction will give an overview of themes that are taken from the articles of the Special Collection.
Disciplines :
Human geography & demography
Author, co-author :
NIENABER, Birte ; University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences (FHSE) > Department of Geography and Spatial Planning (DGEO) > Geography and Spatial Planning
External co-authors :
no
Language :
English
Title :
Guest Editor’s Introduction: Special Collection on Conducting Qualitative Research With People in Vulnerable Situations
Publication date :
2026
Journal title :
International Journal of Qualitative Methods
ISSN :
1609-4069
Publisher :
SAGE Publications, New York, United States - New York
Special issue title :
Conducting Qualitative Research With People in Vulnerable Situations
Volume :
25
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Focus Area :
Migration and Inclusive Societies
Development Goals :
10. Reduced inequalities 11. Sustainable cities and communities
European Projects :
H2020 - 870700 - MIMY - EMpowerment through liquid Integration of Migrant Youth in vulnerable conditions
ALLEA. (2023). The european code of conduct for research integrity – Revised edition 2023. ALLEA. https://allea.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/European-Code-of-conduct-Revised-Edition-2023.pdf
Apers H., Richter L., Van Praag L. (2021). Introduction to the use of co-creative research methods in migration studies. In Van Praag L. (Ed.), Co-creation in migration studies (pp. 17–46). Leuven: Leuven University Press.
Bansal S., Mahediratta S., Kumar S., Sarma P., Prakash A., Medhi B. (2019). Collaborative research in modern era: Need and challenges. Indian Journal of Pharacology, 51(3), 137–139. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijp.IJP_394_19
Barker R., Bonell C., Melendez-Torres G. J. (2024). Hard to reach? Methodological challenges researching vulnerable, gang-involved, young people. Health Expectations: An International Journal of Public Participation in Health Care and Health Policy, 27(3), e14092. https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.14092
Benoit C., Jansson M., Millar A., Phillips R. (2005). Community-academic research on Hard-to-Reach populations: Benefits and challenges. Qualitative Health Research, 15(2), 263–282. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732304267752
Bilger V., van Liempt I. (2009). Introduction: Methodological and ethical concerns in research with vulnerable migrants. In van Liempt I., Bilger V. (Eds.), The ethics of migration research methodology – dealing with vulnerable immigrants. Brighton et al (pp. 1–22). Sussex Academic Press.
Bonevski B., Randell M., Paul C., Chapman K., Twyman L., Bryant J., Brozek I., Hughes C. (2014). Reaching the hard-to-reach: A systematic review of strategies for improving health and medical research with socially disadvantaged groups. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 14(42). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2288-14-42
Brackertz N., Meredyth D. (2008). Social inclusion of the hard to reach. Community consultation and the hard to reach: Local government, social profiling and civic infrastructure. Swinburne Institute for Social Research. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Social-inclusion-of-the-hard-to-reach%3A-community-to-Brackertz-Meredyth/db5905495efe43677b1daa882a29cb23bb8aff33
Clark-Kaszak C. (2021). Ethics in forced migration research: Taking stock and potential ways forward. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 9(3), 125–138. https://doi.org/10.1177/2331502421103440
COM (European Commission). (n.d.). Vulnerable person. https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/networks/european-migration-network-emn/emn-asylum-and-migration-glossary/glossary/vulnerable-person_en
Darko N. (2023). Engaging black and minority ethnic groups in health research. In Hard to reach’? Demystifying the misconceptions. Bristol: Bristol University Press. https://doi.org/10.46692/9781447359159
De Kock C, Verhaeghe F., Orsini G., Uzureau O., Casteleyn L., Pavic G. L., Remue L., Jacobs M., Hest E.V., Alpes M. J., Devos S., Derluyn I. (2025). Ethics in qualitative migration and refugee studies in Europe: From “Doing no Harm” to reciprocity and equity. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 24, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069251362965
Ellard-Gray A., Jeffrey N. K., Choubak M., Crann S. E. (2015). Finding the hidden participant: Solutions for recruiting hidden, Hard-to-Reach, and vulnerable populations. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 14(5), 1609406915621420. https://doi.org/10.1177/1609406915621420
Gatwiri K., McPherson L., Canosa A., Day K., Kim S. (2025). Reflections of ‘doing’ research that involves trauma: A methodological guide and framework for researchers. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 24, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069251350310
Gilodi A., Albert I., Nienaber B. (2022). Vulnerability in the context of migration: A critical overview and a new conceptual model. In Human arenas. SPRINGER. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42087-022-00288-5
Gomez K., Drahota A., Stahmer A. (2021). Choosing strategies that work from the start: A mixed methods study to understand effective development of community-academic partnerships. Action Research, 19(2), 277–300. https://doi.org/10.1177/1476750318775796
Hardy S. J., Chakraborti N. (2020). The process of engagement: Hard to reach or easy to ignore? In Hardy S. J., Chakraborti N. (Eds.), Blood, threats and fears. Palgrave hate studies (pp. 43–66). Palgrave Pivot. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-31997-7_4
Hay I. (2010). Qualitative research methods in human geography. In: Don Mills. Oxford University Press.
Jensen J., Ånensen R. D. (2021). Participatory research methodologies. In Report on action research methodology and innovation in youth related migration and integration research with focus on vulnerability and resilience (pp. 17–18). https://www.mimy-project.eu/outcomes/public-deliverables/MIMY_870700_D1-3_Report_about_action_research_methodology_and_innovation_in_youth_related_migration_and_integration_research_31032021.pdf
Johansen M., Winther H. (2025). Ethical and methodological possibilities and challenges in conducting qualitative research with children. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 24, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069251356881
Kindon S., Pain R., Kesby M. (2007). Participatory action research approaches and methods: Connecting people, participation and place. Routledge.
Kosonen P., Leppälä K., Ikonen M. (2025). Remaining in the field: The vulnerability paradox of native member ethnography. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 24, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069251345125
Liao C., Varcoe C., Brown H., Pike I. (2025). Weaving structural violence into trauma-informed qualitative health research with populations considered vulnerable. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 24, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069251340906
Linell M., Abdelhady D. (2025). Embodied oscillative ethics. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 24, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069251369299
Mackenzie C., McDowell C., Pittaway E. (2007). Beyond “do no harm*”: The challenge of constructing ethical relationships in refugee research. Journal of Refugee Studies, 20(2), 299–319. https://doi.org/10.1093/jrs/fem008
Markey P. C. (2025). Centring the self in participatory research: An autoethnography-led mixed-method approach to research for those conducting collaborative research with Hard-To reach groups. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 24, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069251354901
Meredith C., Haitana T., McKerchar C., Pitama S. (2024). Thank you for listening Kaupapa Maori methodology as a facilitator of culturally safe research with Maori mothers experiencing perinatal mental illness. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 24, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069241307584
Nienaber B., Gilodi A., Oliveira J., Szendrei G., Albert I., Roman M. (2020). Position paper “EMpowerment through liquid Integration of Migrant Youth in vulnerable conditions” (MIMY). https://mimy-project.eu/research/publications/MIMY_870700_position_paper_24072020.pdf
Nienaber B., Oliveira J., Albert I. (2023). Doing action research with young migrants in vulnerable conditions. In: MIS-working paper 17. https://mis.uni.lu/wp-content/uploads/sites/131/2024/05/MIS_WP_17_Birte-Nienaber-Jose-Oliveira-Isabelle-Albert-.pdf
Parkes M., Panelli R. (2001). Integrating catchment ecosystems and community health. Ecosystem Health, 7(2), 85–106. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1526-0992.2001.007002085.x
Rappaport J. (2016). Rethinking the meaning of research in collaborative relationships. Collaborative Anthropologies, 9(1), 1–31. https://doi.org/10.1353/cla.2016.0009
Skrobanek J., Jensen J., Ånensen R. D. (2021). Concluding remarks. In: Report on action research methodology and innovation in youth related migration and integration research with focus on vulnerability and resilience (pp. 27–29). https://www.mimy-project.eu/outcomes/public-deliverables/MIMY_870700_D1-3_Report_about_action_research_methodology_and_innovation_in_youth_related_migration_and_integration_research_31032021.pdf
