Emotional dimensions in research work

– involvement in research on students and psychosocial problems

Abstract

In this article, we explore emotional dimensions of the work of conducting qualitative research. The article is based on our work in a longitudinal, qualitative research project, the Student Life Project (2018-21), which explores life and psychosocial problems in Danish higher education. The researchers follow 47 students from different fi elds of study at seven Danish universities and university colleges, who have experiences with psychosocial problems, ranging from stress issues related specifically to the study, to broad social difficulties and/or clinical diagnoses. Inspired by Hochschild’s understanding of norms for and management of emotionality at work (Hochschild, 1998), we discuss how it affects us to do research work in a field in which we are already involved in several ways. We unfold the importance of emotionality in relation to our experiences of dilemmas, strains and enthusiasm in the relationship with the students. We explore the significance of emotionality in the direct interaction with the students, in the processing of the interviews and in relation to the social and cultural norms for emotionality in research work.