Contemporary societies value free speech and freedom of expression on the most personal – if not intimate – and sensitive issues. What happens to the right to remain silent and resisting the pressure? Qualitative surveys conducted through interviews are one of the most frequently used methods in the social sciences, if not the most used, and go far beyond simple and straightforward conversations. This research tool requires skill, subtlety and sensitivity, and one learns to a great extent from experience. 

15 mars 2019

Argument

Contemporary societies value free speech and freedom of expression on the most personal – if not intimate – and sensitive issues. What happens to the right to remain silent and resisting the pressure? Qualitative surveys conducted through interviews are one of the most frequently used methods in the social sciences, if not the most used, and go far beyond simple and straightforward conversations. This research tool requires skill, subtlety and sensitivity, and one learns to a great extent from experience. Therefore, a number of questions arise: What are the limitations and the elements of risk-taking in qualitative studies? What are the prerequisites required in terms of ethics and the confidentiality of the data collected? Who can and must participate, and through what means? Should researchers have to mutate into politicians, journalists, lawyers, police officers or healthcare professionals? What credit may be given to the words, concerns and ills voiced by the respondents, and the data-based analysis carried out by researchers? Hence the issue of subjectivity and the reliability of the content analysis when decoding. How can a representative sample be constructed, and what is a significant sample? What are the rights and freedom of action of each party during a qualitative survey? What mechanisms do informants develop, and what is the extent of their frustration, if any? Do practices vary according to different types of fieldwork and territories? Can it be justified to keep any objects of research or social group behind the scenes?

This workshop will endeavour to consider the technique of the qualitative surveys and to shed light on the various practices according to countries, the advantages and challenges presented, and the future of qualitative studies based on freedom of speech.

Submission guidelines

Proposals for papers are invited by 1 November 2018.

Please send a proposal (a 500-word abstract and a short CV) to fabienne.portier-lecocq@univ-tours.fr

Evaluation committee

• Carmen Lau Clayton, Reader in Family and cultural Dynamics, Institute of Childhood and Education, Leeds Trinity University, UK
• Fabienne Portier-Le Cocq, Professor of Contemporary British Studies, Faculté de Lettres et LanguesDépartement d'anglais LLCER, Université de Tours, France