You can access here a trio of SAGE articles from the journal Qualitative Research that offer insights into practical concerns that shape research practice. These alert us to some some considerations we must make when conducting research in the social sciences. Sampson and Thomas (2003) consider the importance of risk assessments for acknowledging the hazards you might face in conducting research. Lumsden (2013) reflects on research that involves ‘edgework’ – that is, work that might take researchers into precarious social or legal situations. Sampson’s paper (2004) highlights – echoing Chapter 5 – the importance of pilot studies to ‘test the waters’ before embarking on your research. These papers should complement the key readings for the chapter, which come from the Key Methods in Geography book (Sage, second and third editions).

• Reflecting on the importance of health and safety in research
  Reference: Sampson, H. and Thomas, M. (2003) ‘Risk and responsibility’, Qualitative Research 3 (2): 165‒89.
   
• Negotiating ‘edgework’
  Reference: Lumsden, K. (2013) ‘Survival of the fastest: Ethical dilemmas in research with ‘boy racers’, Qualitative Research 21 (3): 273‒88.
   
• On the importance of pilot studies
  Reference: Sampson, H. (2004) ‘Navigating the waves: the usefulness of a pilot in qualitative research’, Qualitative Research  4 (3): 383‒402.