Emotionally Involved: The Impact of Researching Rape

Rating:
Summary: A much needed look at the emotionality of research
Review: There are many taboo subjects in the world of academic research, and emotional involvement with subjects is certainly one of them. Here Dr. Campbell refutes the idea that there is such a thing as value-free, non-biased research when exploring the experiences of survivors of sexual violence. Using examples from her own research, she explores how the researcher's thoughts and feelings shape the research process itself, and demonstrates that emotional involvement can enhance the quality of research with survivors of sexual violence.

As a doctoral student involved in research on violence against women, I found that the book helped me with some of the difficulties I encountered trying (and failing) to remain objective as I interviewed women about their experiences with violence at home and in the workplace.

I recommend the book for researchers everywhere engaged in the delicate process of understanding how members of both sexes cope with psychological difficulties.