The research politics of (re)naming participants: A sociology of names perspective

Abstract

In this article we argue that theoretical and empirical insights from the sociology of people's names can enrich qualitative researchers’ decision-making about, and descriptions of, their practices of (re)naming participants as well as inform methodological debates about these practices. We review the research politics of participants’ names and outline how issues of anonymisation and pseudonymisation can be thought through using sociological theorising about and empirical research on people's names. In illustration of the value of this perspective, we discuss (re)naming of participants in our study of names in adoption. We describe the challenges that arise around anonymisation and pseudonymisation when the topic is potentially sensitive and where people's names are the focus. We draw out the broader significance of our findings to encourage researchers, regardless of their topic, to better reflect on and account for choices made about why and how research participants are (re)named.