Introduction

Given the rising scholarly interest concerning the lived experience of young fatherhood, it would be worthwhile examining the ethical issues that arise when researchers work closely with such a population while applying qualitative longitudinal (QL) methods. In this chapter, the Following Young Fathers (FYF) project (2010-15), funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), is used as a reflective case study to explore the use of QL interviews with a sample of 31 young fathers (defined as under the age of 25) and the potential research impact it had on the interviewer–interviewee relationship, and what efforts were made to overcome and minimise any potential transgressions. An introduction to the FYF study is followed by a discussion of the conduct of the interviews and the implications this had on relations between the participants and the researchers. The chapter goes on to give examples of the various mechanisms employed to reduce the blurring of boundaries between both parties and how effective these strategies were in hindsight. By sharing such an account, this chapter hopes to stimulate and contribute towards the existing and ongoing debates concerning QL research and ethical practice with young parents found elsewhere.

Ethical conduct is a fundamental principle in any type of research; it is not confined to the data collection stage only and nor should it be seen as an afterthought. At the beginning of a project, researchers need to consider appropriate protocol and assess, and minimise, potential risks and harm in the design and successful completion of the study. During the fieldwork period, researchers should consider the safety of both participants and themselves, and the complexities of the fieldwork encounter, and uphold the integrity and transparency of the research. Towards the end of an investigation, researchers should maintain their ethical duties when leaving the field and during dissemination of the findings, and contemplate the possible impact that results may have on various audiences, including the sample themselves, while ensuring that data reuse and archiving procedures are completed to a high standard if applicable (ESRC, 2015). Ethical considerations throughout the lifecycle of a project allows for good practice among researchers and as the social sciences become increasingly intersectoral (for example, spanning government, academia and the voluntary sector), interdisciplinary and international, with an increased concern in litigation issues within contemporary society, ethical awareness and appropriate conduct cannot be overlooked (SRA, 2003).