The Role of Informal Conversations in Generating Data, and the Ethical and Methodological Issues They Raise

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The Role of Informal Conversations in Generating Data, and the Ethical and Methodological Issues They Raise

Swain, J; Spire, Z; (2020) The Role of Informal Conversations in Generating Data, and the Ethical and Methodological Issues They Raise. Forum: Qualitative Social Research , 21 (1) 10.17169/fqs-21.1.3344. Green open access

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Abstract

Arguing that the role of informal conversations in qualitative social and educational research methodologies is contested but also relatively neglected, in this article we set out how the method has influenced our research approaches and practice. We use an example of a conversation between one of us and a participant to highlight their nuanced and specific nature, and to raise and interrogate a number of ethical and methodological issues that emerge. We view informal conversations as opportunities to add "context" and "authenticity" to data and argue that they can unlock otherwise missed opportunities to expand and enrich data. We also consider the role of ethical boards and ethical guidelines, and the practical effects and consequences these have for researchers when they use informal conversations during their fieldwork.

Type:	Article
Title:	The Role of Informal Conversations in Generating Data, and the Ethical and Methodological Issues They Raise
Open access status:	An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI:	10.17169/fqs-21.1.3344
Publisher version:	https://doi.org/10.17169/fqs-21.1.3344
Language:	English
Additional information:	This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the Creative Commons license, unless indicated otherwise in the credit line; if the material is not included under the Creative Commons license, users will need to obtain permission from the license holder to reproduce the material. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
UCL classification:	UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education > UCL Institute of Education UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education > UCL Institute of Education > IOE - Education, Practice and Society
URI:	https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10091304