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Qualitative Social Work
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Eliciting Narratives of Teenage Pregnancy in the UK

Reflexively Exploring some of the Methodological Challenges

Elizabeth Harlow

University of Salford, UK, e.harlow{at}blueyonder.co.uk

In 2004, a regional government funded Teenage Pregnancy Reintegration Service commissioned the Salford Centre for Social Work Research, University of Salford, UK, to undertake an evaluation of their work. The project was primarily concerned with the experiences of young people who had become parents under the age of 16 years. Following extended negotiation on methodological design (which in addition to the consideration of ethical principles took into account the competing perspectives of the standpoint and positioned perspectives) qualitative research involving the narrative accounts of teenagers and their parents/carers was embarked upon. This article outlines and reflexively explores some of the methodological difficulties encountered, with particular attention being given to the challenge of eliciting narratives from teenage mothers. This exercise provides an example of the way in which stigmatizing discourses and emotional defences may contribute to the recruitment of research respondents and the narrative accounts provided. It is intended that this will illustrate the complexities involved when sensitive topics are pursued. While emanating from an

Key Words: methodology • narratives • reflexivity • researching teenage pregnancy • sensitive topics

Qualitative Social Work, Vol. 8, No. 2, 211-228 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/1473325009103376
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