Researching sensitively without sensitizing: Using a card sort in a concurrent mixed methods design to research trust and distrust

Abstract

Researchers exploring sensitive issues need to obtain valid and reliable information. This may necessitate participants not being sensitised to the precise research focus to prevent contamination of findings. In this paper research exploring feelings of trust and distrust and emotional responses to organisational change is used to assess how a concurrent mixed methods design, utilizing a constrained card sort and in-depth interview, can enable such sensitive issues to be researched without sensitising participants. This illustrative example provides instructive guidance regarding how to apply this mixed method. It also reveals how feelings of trust and distrust and emotional responses are directly associated with positively and negatively interpreted change situations rather than misappropriated, highlighting reasons for these responses including the role of managers. The paper concludes by considering how this mixed methods design can support researching such sensitive issues in organisations.

New approaches to qualitative interviewing: Development of a card sort technique to understand subjective patterns of symptoms and responses

“…While useful for exploring perceptions of predetermined subject areas, use of constrained and uniform item sets is less useful for exploring how individuals perceive their own experiences (Chewning et al, 2012, Saunders and Thornhill, 2011, Towse et al, 2000). Unlike prior techniques that have focused on sorting pre-determined sets of items into groups or categories (Coogan and Herrington, 2011, Davies, 1996, Hudson, 2014, Neufeld et al, 2004), participants in this study sequenced their own individual and unique sets of symptoms and self-management responses, and developed contextually grounded narratives about their experiences with asthma.…”

Creativity as a Competitive Entrepreneurial Enabler

“…The main focus for data collection for this research will be from the perspective of Primary data. In this regards, the collection of data will consist of semi structured interviews on a 1 2 1 basis and will follow the based on a commonly adopted protocol (Mark N. K. Saunders & Thornhill, 2011;).…”

The use of ethnography to explore meanings that refuse collectors attach to their work

“…The pre-perceived stigma attached to dirty work and the moralising of outside discourses may increase non-participation and evasive responses due to individuals expecting negative consequences, a problem which can reduce the interpretative power of the data collected (Saunders & Thornhill, 2011). Even when confidentiality is assured, questions around topics perceived as sensitive are likely to result in responses that will protect the participant themselves from embarrassment and to present themselves in such a light that is positively reinforced by the researcher (Saunders & Thornhill, 2011;Dalton, et al, 1997;Lee, 1993). As Saunders and Thornhill (2011) detail, the use of triangulation, or mixed methods, in the data collection process can increase interpretative power -providing a more complete account of experience than would otherwise have been possible.…”

“…In cases such as this, where the research objective is to explore experiences around dealing with dirt and cultural taint which may be considered sensitive, care needs to be taken to prevent the contamination of the findings (Lee, 1993). The preperceived stigma attached to dirty work and the moralising of outside discourses may increase non-participation and evasive responses due to individuals expecting negative consequences, a problem which can reduce the interpretative power of the data collected (Saunders and Thornhill, 2011). Even when confidentiality is assured, questions around topics perceived as sensitive are likely to result in responses that will protect the participant themselves from embarrassment and to present themselves in such a light that is positively reinforced by the researcher (Saunders and Thornhill, 2011;Dalton et al, 1997;Lee, 1993).…”

“…Even when confidentiality is assured, questions around topics perceived as sensitive are likely to result in responses that will protect the participant themselves from embarrassment and to present themselves in such a light that is positively reinforced by the researcher (Saunders and Thornhill, 2011;Dalton et al, 1997;Lee, 1993). As Saunders and Thornhill (2011) detail, the use of triangulation, or mixed methods, in the data collection process can increase interpretative power -providing a more complete account of experience than would otherwise have been possible. In this case, the interview process was able to explore in greater depth some of the findings which emerged from the participant observation 189 Use of ethnography process, while photographs presented a visual snapshot of the texture and feel of the work to add to the general "feel" of experience.…”