Book Review: Silences, Neglected Feelings, and Blind-Spots in Research Practice by Davis, K & Irvine, J DavisKIrvineJ (2022). Silences, Neglected Feelings, and Blind-Spots in Research Practice. Routledge eBooks, Routledge. pp. 224, GBP £36.99. Paperback ISBN: 9781003208563
Year: 2025
Type: book-review
Abstract: The book Silences, Neglected Feelings, and Blind Spots in Research Practice is divided into three parts, as indicated in the title.The authors contributing to this book examine how academic practice overlooks key aspects of research-such as the relationship between the researcher and the respondent, funding, ethical challenges, and the issue of reciprocity.The first part of the book (Silences) focuses on the role of silence in academic research.This refers to aspects of field relationships that remain unspoken and may influence the interpretation of results.In the second part (Neglected Feelings), the authors explore the significance of emotions in research, highlighting how the academic sphere marginalizes researchers' subjective experiences.The third part (Blind Spots) analyzes methodological blind spots, critically reflecting on the power dynamics in research and the ways in which researchers recognize their own biases.I greatly appreciate that this book is intended for researchers and students working with qualitative methods, yet its readability allows a broader audience to engage with it.This is primarily due to the book's foundation in personal experiences, emotions, and a highly reflexive approach, as well as a certain degree of self-denial regarding the knowledge acquired by the researcher.Now, I will focus more on the three parts of the book in detail.The first part consists of four chapters, each addressing a specific topic.However, they all touch on ethical and financial taboos, as well as social and institutional dilemmas within academia.The common theme across these chapters is the responsibility of the researcher.The relationship between the researcher and the studied individuals is perceived as unequal, whether it involves financial or material gifts in field research, racial identity in research, the "white" academic lens in ethnographic studies, or legal threats.All the authors raise the question of the power researchers hold and how they consciously or unconsciously exercise it.These four chapters explore the boundary between personal and academic roles-
Source: Qualitative Research
Author: Zuzana Talašová
Institution: Masaryk University
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,650
OpenAlex ID: W4414286294