Methodological Considerations when Conducting Research with Vulnerable Populations

Perspective Chapter: Feminist Standpoint Theory – A Lens for Counseling Psychology Research and Practice

“…Power in this sense refers to the dynamic and continually unfolding processes wielded by institutional structures to manage the ability of a group or an individual to constrain the choices available to another group or individual [21]. FST can therefore provide an critical lens to support ongoing efforts within the field of counseling psychology to decolonize Eurocentric epistemologies within research and practice paradigms [22,23]. Of particular interest to counseling psychology researchers is the way that FST scholars are interested in engaging an intersectional analysis on individual-level psychological experiences and the ways these are influenced by-and therefore can illuminate-the structural dimensions of social life [9].…”

“…To balance some aspects of relational power, researchers can consider disclosing personal information or experiences relevant to standpoints on structural power dynamics [80]. Active practices of transparency can also include researchers informing participants about their intentions and collaborating on how participants' involvement and the dissemination of research findings will benefit them and the communities they represent [22]. FST research practices also require methodological flexibility, and ongoing reflexivity to clearly situate and articulate the researcher's presence, pre-suppositions, and intentions throughout the research inquiry.…”

“…Specifically, the researcher's presence should not, nor "cannot be controlled for or eliminated through data scrubbing, member checking, bracketing, or auditing; rather the researcher's positionality should be marked, explored, and articulated throughout the research process" [9]. This means that an FST lens can strengthen counseling psychology researchers' practices of active and transparent commitment to protecting and upholding participants' voices, stories, and preferences after they share their experiences within research [22].…”

“…The increased nuances of such a knowledge base can allow counseling psychologists to more appropriately inform and collaboratively develop interventions that will most empower clients as they are supported in defining their needs and systemic barriers on their own terms [93]. This approach helps to deconstruct hegemonic tendencies within social sciences related to objectifying, deficit-based analyses of vulnerable groups tied to the relational experience of these bodies brought into the proximity of the physical counseling site [22,94]. Instead, an FST lens can encourage counseling psychologists to pursue practice that focuses on holistic, mutual, situated conceptualizations of client and counselor.…”

“…Beyond the therapy room, counseling psychologists are called to engage with community, policy, and service advocacy partnerships [22]. As discussed above, FST challenges researchers to understand the world through the lived experiences of individuals who have been socio-politically marginalized, and more importantly, to apply that knowledge toward social change and activism [45].…”