Humanizing Qualitative Research

Humanizing Qualitative Research foregrounds the lived experiences, identities, and positionalities of qualitative researchers and participants, challenging the disembodied, procedural approaches that dominate many methods texts. Rather than offering a technical manual, the book emphasizes the humanity at the heart of qualitative inquiry and examines how emotions, identities, and ethics shape every research stage.

Contributors from sociology, anthropology, public health, and social work share personal and professional reflections on the tensions, joys, and challenges of conducting qualitative studies, particularly when working with historically marginalized communities. Chapters address critical issues including trauma, exhaustion, intimacy, resilience, joy, and community accountability, providing insight into research as an embodied and relational practice. This book validates the struggles and strengths of researchers—especially those holding marginalized identities—and demonstrates how reflexivity can be a methodological tool that enhances both rigor and care. By engaging with issues of identity, power, and accountability, the book provides essential guidance for cultivating reflexive, ethical, and resilient qualitative scholarship.

This accessible, interdisciplinary volume serves graduate students, early career researchers, and established scholars seeking to deepen their understanding of qualitative research as a profoundly human endeavour. It offers vital perspectives for those committed to conducting research that honours the full humanity of both researchers and participants, making it an indispensable resource for anyone engaged in qualitative inquiry across social science disciplines.

Hyeyoung Oh Nelson, PhD,is Assistant Professor of Public Health in the Department of Health and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Colorado-Denver, USA. She is the author of Conflicted Care (Stanford University Press, 2022) and has published widely on qualitative research in health contexts.

Marisa Westbrook, PhD, MPH, is Assistant Professor of Community Health/Health Promotion at the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health, Portland State University, USA. A public health social scientist, her work explores community engagement, housing insecurity, and the process of qualitative research.