Trust within Researcher–Participant Relationships in Forced Migration Research (TrustMi)
Project description
About the Project
People who experience forced migration, such as refugees and asylum seekers, have important perspectives that are often unheard. Qualitative research can help bring these perspectives forward, but doing so involves more than simply collecting data. It requires, first and foremost, building trust between researchers and study participants experiencing forced migration.
The TrustMi research project explores how trust is understood and shaped in research with people in situations of forced migration.
Why This Matters
When researchers work closely with people in situations of forced migration, relationships become a central part of the research process. Although trust is widely recognized as an essential characteristic of these relationships, it is often not reflected on or examined critically enough in forced migration research. The TrustMi research project aims to address this gap.
What We Want to Find Out
The TrustMi research project focuses on two main research questions:
• How is trust conceptualized in relationships between researchers and study participants in situations of forced migration?
• How is trust shaped throughout the forced migration research process?
How the Study Is Carried Out
The project uses a qualitative approach, focusing on described experiences, perspectives, and reflections.
Our goal is to reach 10 to 15 researchers in Finland.
Participants will join individual online interviews.
Who Can Take Part?
You can take part if you:
• Have an academic background in human sciences, including social sciences, humanities, or related fields.
• Use qualitative methods in your forced migration research.
• Collect data from individuals in situations of forced migration.
• Can speak Finnish or English.
The conversations will explore
• What trust means in research relationships.
• How trust develops throughout the research process.
• Challenges in building or maintaining trust.
• Real-life experiences from research practice.
Impact of the Project
The findings of the TrustMi research project are expected to offer new theoretical insights into trust in research with people in situations of forced migration and to contribute to methodological and ethical guidelines for conducting research in this context.
The findings are also expected to support more responsible, ethical, and context-sensitive research practices. This will benefit both the scientific community and society by improving the quality and integrity of research with people in situations of forced migration.
Privacy notice for scientific research
Privacy notice for scientific research (pdf).
Responsible Researchers
For further information about the TrustMi research project, please contact:
Prof. Kati Turtiainen
Professor of Social Work
Kokkola University Consortium Chydenius, University of Jyväskylä
Email: kati.m.turtiainen@jyu.fi
Phone: +358 40 669 1955
Areen Nassar, PhD
Postdoctoral Researcher
Kokkola University Consortium Chydenius, University of Jyväskylä
Email: areen.h.nassar@jyu.fi
Phone: +358 50 516 3335