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Handbook of Research Methods in Health Social Sciences pp 1–10Cite as

Sensitive Research Methodology and Approach: An Introduction

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1 Introduction

The goal of research is ‘that of discerning and uncovering the actual facts of [people]’ lives and experience, facts that have been hidden, inaccessible, suppressed, distorted, misunderstood, ignored’. (DuBois 1985, cited in Bergen 1996, p. 200)

This section of the handbook covers sensitive research methods and approaches when researching with particular groups of individuals and groups. The section includes chapters which are related to those who are referred to as vulnerable, marginalized, hard-to-reach people, hidden populations as well as the elites and experts.

Within the present climate of our fractured world, it is inevitable that health and social science researchers will engage with the vulnerable, disadvantaged, and marginalized groups as it is likely that these population groups will be confronted with more problems with their health and well-being. Despite this, only a few books document and provide advice about how to go about performing research with...

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown Campus, Locked Bag 1797, 2751, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Pranee Liamputtong

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  1. Pranee Liamputtong
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Correspondence to Pranee Liamputtong .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Health, Locked Bag 1797, CA.02.35, Western Sydney Univ, School of Science & Health, Locked Bag 1797, CA.02.35, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia

    Pranee Liamputtong

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Liamputtong, P. (2018). Sensitive Research Methodology and Approach: An Introduction. In: Liamputtong, P. (eds) Handbook of Research Methods in Health Social Sciences . Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-2779-6_122-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-2779-6_122-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-10-2779-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-10-2779-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Social SciencesReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences

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Chapter history

  1. Latest

    Sensitive Research Methodology and Approach: An Introduction
    Published:
    07 September 2018

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-2779-6_122-3

  2. Sensitive Research Methodology and Approach: An Introduction
    Published:
    30 June 2018

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-2779-6_122-2

  3. Original

    Sensitive Research Methodology and Approach: An Introduction
    Published:
    15 December 2017

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-2779-6_122-1

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