TY - JOUR

T1 - Beyond vulnerable populations

T2 - vulnerability, fieldwork and knowledge production

AU - Minatti, Wolfgang

AU - Nicole-Berva, Ophelia

PY - 2025/10/6

Y1 - 2025/10/6

N2 - This introductory note to the special issue on vulnerability and fieldwork provides a critical overview of how the concept of vulnerability has been employed in fieldwork literature and argues for a deeper exploration of its implications. Moving away from the notion of ‘vulnerable populations’ as the primary angle of approach, we emphasise that vulnerability is not a static trait but a dynamic and contextual experience. We then highlight its critical, albeit under-researched, role for knowledge production. Investigating the relevance of vulnerability across all stages of a field research process – from design to implementation to write-up – we demonstrate how vulnerability may serve as a lens to reflect on the ethics, methodologies and epistemic implications of fieldwork. Ultimately, this note serves as a unifying thread for the diverse contributions of the special issue, each offering unique perspectives on the manifold dimensions of vulnerability in qualitative research.

AB - This introductory note to the special issue on vulnerability and fieldwork provides a critical overview of how the concept of vulnerability has been employed in fieldwork literature and argues for a deeper exploration of its implications. Moving away from the notion of ‘vulnerable populations’ as the primary angle of approach, we emphasise that vulnerability is not a static trait but a dynamic and contextual experience. We then highlight its critical, albeit under-researched, role for knowledge production. Investigating the relevance of vulnerability across all stages of a field research process – from design to implementation to write-up – we demonstrate how vulnerability may serve as a lens to reflect on the ethics, methodologies and epistemic implications of fieldwork. Ultimately, this note serves as a unifying thread for the diverse contributions of the special issue, each offering unique perspectives on the manifold dimensions of vulnerability in qualitative research.

KW - Vulnerability

KW - Fieldwork

KW - Methodology

KW - Qualitative research

KW - Research ethics

KW - Higher Education and Science Management

UR - https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=leuphana_woslite&SrcAuth=WosAPI&KeyUT=WOS:001588048900001&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=WOS_CPL

U2 - 10.1177/14687941251377291

DO - 10.1177/14687941251377291

M3 - Journal articles

JO - Qualitative Research

JF - Qualitative Research

SN - 1468-7941

ER -