Challenges to conducting sensitive research

purity culture in British Christianity as case study

Abstract

This article discusses some challenges to conducting sensitive research, taking my PhD on purity culture in British Christianity as a case study. I first discuss methodological challenges faced during the course of this research: generating data in a sensitive area of research, and managing ideologically diverse participants. I then discuss the impact of emotionally demanding research on the researcher themselves. Finally, I conclude by discussing the inequity in support for emotionally demanding research in religious studies and offering recommendations in response. This article is primarily aimed at researchers in religious studies – however, it may be of use to those in other subjects across the social sciences, and indeed in any discipline, conducting research on topics which are contentious, sensitive or emotionally demanding in nature. It is my intention that this article will be of use to researchers facing similar challenges to those presented here, regardless of disciplinary location.