illustrated in Plate 1 demonstrate the importance attached to ‘seeing for yourself’ and
achieving at least a level of independence.
I was so excited when I woke up - I washed my sandals on my own and no-one
helped me. I asked my brother to take a picture while I was doing this as I was so
happy not to feel any pain. (Miriam, diary extract, May 10th 2004)
Plate 1: Photographs taken by people living with long-term illness to demonstrate the
importance of ‘seeing for yourself’
Ethics and emotions
The use of solicited diaries for undertaking emotional research clearly raises a number
of ethical issues. Of paramount significance is that the very process of diary keeping
undoubtedly played a role in creating some of the emotions recorded. Whilst
conducting research that is potentially upsetting disrupts the over-riding and usually
unquestioned ethical objective of ‘avoiding harm’, it also raises important questions
regarding how harm is defined and by who, what level of harm is deemed
(un)acceptable and how the costs to individuals are weighed up against the collective
needs or potential benefits of raising awareness of the particular group in question
(Meth with Malaza 2003; Robson 2001). This also links into debates concerning
confidentiality and exploitation, and these issues will be examined now.
Whilst the diaries were translated in the field, the delay between the writing
and translation of the information meant that it was not possible to follow up issues
raised at the exact time that the diaries and associated emotions were recorded. Any
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