Dealing with controversial findings

In this chapter, the author discusses her own experiences of dealing with controversial findings in an extended research project that led to multiple publications, and she draws out some general points that are intended to guide other researchers when negotiating similarly sensitive topics. The author’s study of white Western men teaching English in Japan was one such study that raised controversial issues to do with romantic and sexual relationships between male teachers and female adult students. Traditionally, even consensual romantic or sexual relationships between teachers and adult students have been regarded as improper, primarily because of the power imbalance believed to be inherent in the pedagogical relationship. Resolving the problems associated with author’s controversial findings required some careful thinking and the adoption of a diverse range of strategies. Another strategy that helped her resolve the problem of dealing with controversial interview data was to situate her analytical approach within a Foucauldian framework.