Occupational Stress Research: Considering the Emotional Impact for the Qualitative Researcher

Abstract

Leading occupational stress researchers have highlighted the need for more qualitative research to advance our understanding of occupational stress as a complex and dynamic process. However, qualitative research can be challenging particularly when it involves the exploration of emotive issues such as occupational stress. Although research institutions provide ethical guidelines for the protection and support of research participants, much less emphasis is placed on the impact of such research on the researcher. Yet in qualitative studies of occupational stress, participants often display a range of emotions to a researcher who is expected to be both empathetic and professional in his/her conduct. If qualitative researchers are inadequately prepared for the emotions they may experience in the field and poorly supported through the research process, then they may lose confidence and eschew qualitative research in favor of quantitative work thereby maintaining the status quo in occupational stress research. This chapter draws on both the literature on researcher emotion and the author’s own research experience to explore some of the problems encountered by qualitative researchers, and presents a number of recommendations to support qualitative researchers involved in the study of occupational stress.

Citation

Mazzetti, A. (2013), "Occupational Stress Research: Considering the Emotional Impact for the Qualitative Researcher", The Role of Emotion and Emotion Regulation in Job Stress and Well Being (Research in Occupational Stress and Well Being, Vol. 11), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 283-310. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1479-3555(2013)0000011014