How Close Is Too Close? Balancing Closeness And Detachment In Qualitative Research

Conducting qualitative research among deviant or criminal populations can be daunting, especially when one considers the ambiguities and complexities that often plague such research. A particularly challenging issue that many qualitative researchers face is handling the tensions experienced when trying to assess and achieve the appropriate levels of intimacy or closeness (i.e., developing rapport with subjects and becoming a trusted presence in their lives and social worlds) and detachment (i.e., being able to critically observe and analyze research subjects and the settings in which they operate) during the research process. This article draws on interviews with 29 leading and emerging deviance and crime researchers to explore the issue of balancing close relationships with research participants while maintaining the capacity for critical analysis. Topics discussed include factors that give rise to this conflict, ways this conflict can manifest throughout the research process, strategies and techniques experienced researchers use to negotiate these issues, and lessons for nascent researchers interested in using qualitative methodologies to study matters of deviance and crime.