Book chapter 281 views
The use of instant messaging in sensitive research
Jordan Dawson 
,
Yibo Fan
,
Yibo Fan
Handbook of Sensitive Research in the Social Sciences, Volume: 1, Pages: 184 - 197
Swansea University Author:
Jordan Dawson
Abstract
There are various means of communicating available to researchers interested in sensitive subjects. Amongst these means are contemporary tools such as Instant Messaging (IM), which enable remote communication between parties using internet-enabled devices. By reflecting on the authors experiences of...
| Published in: | Handbook of Sensitive Research in the Social Sciences |
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| ISBN: | 9781035315222 9781035315239 |
| Published: |
Edward Elgar Publishing
2025
|
| Online Access: |
https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035315239 |
| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa66416 |
| Abstract: |
There are various means of communicating available to researchers interested in sensitive subjects. Amongst these means are contemporary tools such as Instant Messaging (IM), which enable remote communication between parties using internet-enabled devices. By reflecting on the authors experiences of using IM in performing interviews on potentially sensitive subjects, this chapter considers its use in sensitive subject research more broadly. The chapter considers the impact that including IM as a means of interviewing may have on initial participant engagement, the conversation(s) between researcher and participant, and on the outputs of said conversations. In these various stages, IM provides a means through which participants may be enabled to engage with research processes in ways which they may otherwise be reluctant to, and includes tools through which elements of in-person communication may be replicated. These discussions, amongst others held within, suggest that whilst there are some important considerations which must be made by researchers adopting this method, IM can be a useful tool within sensitive subject research. |
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| College: |
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Start Page: |
184 |
| End Page: |
197 |