Including vulnerable participants in research

<p dir="ltr">Research in health and social care often aims to understand and improve the experiences of vulnerable and marginalised groups. Groups are typically defined as vulnerable if they are at increased relative risk of harm and/or they experience diminished autonomy. Many researchers worry about the practical and ethical challenges of including vulnerable people in research. Yet, involving vulnerable groups in research is important for representation and research validity (its ‘truth’ and trustworthiness in explaining phenomena). This chapter confronts potential issues in the areas of power and positionality, participant choice and capacity and research design and practice. In discussing these different areas, the chapter makes a case for research with vulnerable groups and suggests ways to mediate different risks and challenges.</p>