We are SRN Midlands (the Sensitive Research Network), a collective of PGRs from the Midlands who are researching complex and emotionally demanding topics across the social sciences. We aim to meet regularly to discuss the intersecting methodological and ethical issues we face, support each other, share information and knowledge, and create a welcoming space in a peer-led informal setting. Although we are not a support network, we aim to support each other through peer-learning and sharing of information and experiences.
“Research that demands a tremendous amount of mental, emotional, or physical energy and potentially affects or depletes the researcher’s well-being ... [it] is not limited to research on sensitive issues ... research can also be emotionally demanding when it concerns topics similar to the personal/traumatic experiences of the researcher...”
(Kumar and Cavallaro, 2018; Burrell et al., 2023)---
As a member of SRN Midlands, you will gain access to our members' area. This includes a curated list of resources such as: Methodological & ethical training materials; Reflective articles on EDR; Wellbeing resources to support your research journey
Members will have priority access to SRN Midlands workshops. Any workshop hosted or organised by SRN Midlands will prioritise members first before the general public. Further exclusive workshops may be made available to SRN Midlands members depending on members' priorities and interests.
Alongside more informal methods of communication, we also have a Jisc Mailing list. All members have access to the list to share opportunities, events and news with other members. It is one of many ways we try and keep members connected within and beyond the EDR community.
Members also have access to the SRN Midlands blog. This is a space for any member to reflect on the personal and professional sides of academic life. We welcome reflections on fieldwork, commentaries or simply updates to any work that is being conducted by our members.
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We welcome anyone from any disciplinary background who researches sensitive or emotionally demanding topics. Our past and present members have researched:
Social determinants of youth suicide
Ethnographic research within specialist police forces
Evaluating a newly developed Domestic Abuse links to Suicide Screening Tool
Investigating the institution of predictive (criminal) justice
Honour based abuse and forced marriage in the UK
Malignant alienation of psychosis in mental healthcare settings
Exploring memory for sexual violence and metamemory processes along the reporting pathway
Online violent extremist content
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This website and brand were built in 2024 by Adam Chen. It was last updated in August 2025. To access the brand toolkit, including its guidelines, please email Adam (srn.midlands+admin@gmail.com)