Saunders, B, Kitzinger, J and Kitzinger, C (2015) Anonymising interview data: challenges and compromise in practice. Qualitative Research, 15 (5). 616 -632. ISSN 1468-7941

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Abstract

Anonymising qualitative research data can be challenging, especially in highly sensitive contexts such as catastrophic brain injury and end-of-life decision-making. Using examples from in-depth interviews with family members of people in vegetative and minimally conscious states, this article discusses the issues we faced in trying to maximise participant anonymity alongside maintaining the integrity of our data. We discuss how we developed elaborate, context-sensitive strategies to try to preserve the richness of the interview material wherever possible while also protecting participants. This discussion of the practical and ethical details of anonymising is designed to add to the largely theoretical literature on this topic and to be of illustrative use to other researchers confronting similar dilemmas.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: This is the final published version of the article (version of record). It first appeared online via Sage Publications at https://doi.org/10.1177/1468794114550439 - please refer to any applicable terms of use of the publisher.
Uncontrolled Keywords: anonymity, coma, confidentiality, minimally conscious, research ethics, serious brain injury, vegetative
Subjects: R Medicine > R Medicine (General) > R735 Medical education. Medical schools. Research
Divisions: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Primary Care Health Sciences
Related URLs:
Depositing User: Symplectic
Date Deposited: 28 Apr 2017 13:23
Last Modified: 28 Apr 2017 13:28
URI: https://eprints.keele.ac.uk/id/eprint/3323

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