(Not)New Questions in New Contexts (Methodological and Ethical Problems in the Studies of Refugees From Ukraine)

Abstract

The article is devoted to reflection on the experience of field research of refugees from Ukraine. It examines methodological and ethical issues and problems. The article aims to identify problematic points and to demonstrate how methodological sensitivity and reflexivity can help to find relevant research focuses and interpretative frameworks. The first section of the article is devoted to research strategies, in particular the problems of “fast” and “slow” research, as well as issues of observations and specifics of interviewing of refugees. The use of mosaic methodology, research strategies of “fast” and “slow” sociology, different sources, etc. allows researchers to find non-trivial research focuses.The second section of the article is devoted to the relationship between the researcher and the research subject. On the one hand, the humanitarian perspective universalizes suffering, on the other hand, it allows establishing trusting and personalized relationships and working with the sensitive topics. The section also raises the questions of the interviewer’s emotional empathy and trust issues.