{"id":2951,"date":"2024-08-01T10:14:22","date_gmt":"2024-08-01T10:14:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jigsaw-research.co.uk\/?p=2951"},"modified":"2024-10-17T16:36:52","modified_gmt":"2024-10-17T15:36:52","slug":"the-only-safety-is-in-silence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jigsaw-research.strat7.com\/us\/blog\/the-only-safety-is-in-silence\/","title":{"rendered":"The only safety is in silence: Polarisation and Self-Censorship"},"content":{"rendered":"

The only safety is in silence: (except at the AQR annual conference)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is perhaps a sign of the times but there seems to be no shortage of polarising and controversial topics to research these days, and this was the focus of the paper we presented at the Association of Qualitative Researchers annual conference in June this year. Billed as \u2018Humanity Fights Back\u2019 <\/em>the conference brought together the qualitative industry\u2019s refreshing response to the challenges posed by the seductive lure of AI and \u2018even bigger\u2019<\/em> big data. The reassurance that what we do is \u2018still all about people and by people\u2019 <\/em>was gratefully received.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our particular platform was, \u2018Polarisation and Self-Censorship\u2019<\/em><\/strong>, and we were one of three papers focused on the vital role qualitative research plays in tackling self-censorship when exploring the \u2018really tricky to research\u2019<\/em> topics that divide people. My paper was fittingly titled: The only safety is in silence: creating the right space for authenticity in a conflicted world.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jigsaw has been navigating our polarised world via research for over 20 years, exploring feelings about politics, trust in our institutions, and broaching particularly sensitive issues that divide opinion, and making sense of this complexity. We drew on this experience, as well as self-funded research, to explore how people feel about sharing personal views in the current climate, and different qualitative environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a word, \u2018polarisation\u2019 has negative connotations, but in the right spirit, it can be a robust debate. Differences of opinion provide clarity and help sharpen our arguments, and the energy entailed is arguably better than apathy. But when disagreements are weaponised, and in the wrong spirit, as a conflict between \u2018us and them\u2019,<\/em> things become much more problematic. There was a real sense from our research that people feel that \u2018everything is weaponised these days\u2019<\/em>. Expressing your views now feels more of a personal risk and the response at human level is often retreating within yourself. Withdrawal and silence can become the safest option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But polarisation combined with self-censorship has some significant consequences for our society. There can be a real reluctance to broach important issues because of a fear of disapproval, and this exacerbates the fact that we will always struggle to resolve the issues we don\u2019t talk about; enabling our society to talk about them is a vital purpose for qualitative research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where people feel safe depends upon their relationship with the people around them \u2013 and people are constantly evaluating their environments and who they are with before they say things, including qualitative contexts. Effectiveness \u2013 meaning authenticity \u2013 hinges on recreating the environments and relationships where people feel safe in their wider lives, including replicating private and intimate spaces, enabling a sense of tribal security and bond, and actively creating the right qualitative space so that people don\u2019t fear being judged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This qualitative space is more precious than ever, and it is a unique space in today\u2019s climate; therefore preserving its integrity is vital. It needs to be safe in terms of being open and non-judgemental where people feel secure in expressing their true feelings if it is to deliver authenticity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But when researching subjects that can divide people, it also needs to be an objective and impartial space. By definition, the issues and topics that polarise us are contested, with divergent theories and narratives behind \u2018each side\u2019<\/em>, and each side is often certain they are right, and the other side is wrong. Maintaining an objective stance is even more pressured in a polarised world, but it is vital that we put ourselves above that fray as researchers, if we are to genuinely listen, and really hear how people feel. All our interests (agencies and clients alike) are best served by qualitative that prioritises authenticity and provides the right space to enable this, and we as qualitative researchers must be custodians of that space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Luke Perry<\/a>, July 24<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The only safety is in silence: (except at the AQR annual conference) It is perhaps a sign of the times but there seems to be no shortage of polarising and controversial topics to research these days, and this was the focus of the paper we presented at the Association of Qualitative Researchers annual conference in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3058,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2951","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nThe only safety is in silence: Polarisation and Self-Censorship - Jigsaw Research<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Read Jigsaw Research's thought-provoking blog on the power of silence in communication. 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