ABSTRACT
Serious threats to a researcher’s emotional stability and sense of self are often involved
when undertaking qualitative research with participants undergoing stressful life
events. We would like to invite you to think about the possible emotional implications
of this recent job advertisement for a qualitative researcher. One section of the
advertisement has been included below but it is paraphrased to conceal the identity of
the institution and study. The research project was to involve in-depth interviews with
terminally ill patients and their carers:
The researcher will have daily interaction with patients who are dying and
their kin, thus awareness of the issues these groups may experience and the
capability to cope with this kind of setting are essential. When required,
support will be available.
