Workshop
Workshop “Research Topics That Get Under Your Skin – Coping with Distressing Topics in Your Work” by Alexa Hepburn, Elina Turjanmaa and Sisko Piippo.
When: Thursday 15th May at 10:00-12:00
Researching sensitive and distressing topics can profoundly affect researchers yet researcher well-being receives little focus in research ethics and is rarely discussed in academia. This workshop is designed to offer a space for students and researchers to reflect on their experiences, explore the role of emotional engagement in their work, and discuss strategies for managing the challenges that arise when studying difficult topics including, but not limited to, violence, trauma, captivity, forced migration, or children’s well-being.
The workshop explores the role of emotions in the research process and how different research methods—such as direct interaction with participants in distress versus analyzing recordings, blog texts, legal texts, archives, or other types of pre-existing data—shape the researcher’s emotional engagement with distressing material. The key themes include:
- The different ways distressing topics “get under the skin” depending on research methods and researcher positionality.
- The limitations in research ethics guidelines when addressing researcher well-being.
- Institutional and informal support—what exists, what’s missing, and what we wish we had.
- Practical strategies for managing distress, emotional engagement, and detachment.
We welcome students and researchers at all career stages, whether you have personal experiences to share or simply want to explore these issues in discussion with others. The workshop features a brief introductory panel, small-group sessions, and a final group discussion. We aim to create a space that encourages open conversations and mutual support among participants.
Registration for the workshop is required in advance when registering for the conference.