ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an insight into sensitive and hostile encounters whilst undertaking ethnographic research. Discussion around emotion and locality is widely accepted in the field of sociology in order to enhance the trustworthiness of qualitative research. Upon undertaking multi-sited ethnography, the first author reflects on his impact using a multi-sited critique and examines the conflict that emerged as a result of aiming to uncover original data in the field. This paper reflects on the exploration of sensitive topics, which has led to the cessation of data collection from the two authors. One of the authors reflects on his role and impact on his participants and recognises the value in limiting further conflict by leaving the field. This paper then offers considerations for mitigating such encounters for prospective ethnographers whereby it is argued that other cultural phenomena led to an early exit. It is anticipated that this paper will add to the existing literature in ethnographic research whereby it provides a unique insight into managing a hostile situation, but also acknowledges the importance of considering emotion and locality within the qualitative research.
