Managing Risk in Research Design

Many researchers in Humanities and Social Sciences will undertake some form of fieldwork during the course of their research. Whether you are going to a local archive or the remote reaches of the Himalayas, fieldwork involves risks – to yourself, to other people, and to your work. This workshop considers how you can incorporate risk management into your research design even from the early stages of planning, and aims to cover:

* Risks to your data (access to resources, data storage, open access, sensitive or controversial sources) * Risks to you (emotional and physical risks, secondary trauma, vulnerability during fieldwork) * Risks to other participants (reputational risk, use of incentives, managing expectations) * Ethical risks (considering the ethical requirements and implications of your work, and ‘next steps’ for ethical approval)

The workshop will be interactive and responsive, so please bring along some information about your proposed research activities. Please note that this workshop does not replace or supersede any ‘safety in fieldwork’ training offered by your faculty or department.