Backroom Research

In chapter 3, Knight discusses empathy and possibly sympathy as tools that are important for a researcher.  Empathy is understanding another’s perspective, position or view.  Knight states that to undergo and obtain quality research, all researchers must be empathetic because if researchers do not fully grasp their informant’s position and responses then their findings are limited.  Knight does continue to elaborate that insider research, for instance that midwives understand midwifery and only they would know what questions to ask, is not necessarily superior to outsider research.  He goes onto say, and I agree, that a way that outside researchers can compensate is by thoroughly reading up on their topic and doing plenty of pilot fieldwork.