Alternative and Non-Traditional Data Collection Methods for Vulnerable Populations

This session focusses on research that explores, develops or tests data collection methods applied in empirical studies into vulnerable populations. These are populations like low literate people, people with cognitive limitations, (mental) health challenges, physical restraints like in hearing or speaking, and whose voices may be under- or misrepresented in research. They all have in common to be at greater risk of communicative, cognitive and/or motivational restraints or of being hard to study due to institutional distrust, power differences and the like. These limitations pose a threat to the quality of the data obtained and the resulting research outcomes.

In this session, we welcome theoretical and empirical contributions that address the use of structured or unstructured data collection for vulnerable populations, whether in quantitative surveys, qualitative field research, or mixed-methods research. The alternative/non-traditional data collection methods may be discussed or evaluated in relation to issues like cognitive and communicative processes, verbal and non-verbal behavior, power differences in research, sensitive topics and emotional burden, or other interactive aspects of data collection. In the same vein, contributions are welcomed that concentrate on the development of tools and instruments, like to aid recall or to map data visually, that aim to support data collection.

Hence, this session invites a broad range of papers dealing with innovative approaches to collect data from vulnerable populations.