Introduction

Many social researchers may face dilemmas as a result of silences, neglected feelings, and blind-spots. Some topics may seem unspeakable because of politics or cultural taboos. Publishers can silence unfashionable topics by refusing publication. Neglected or denied feelings can also produce silences in researcher, distorting our interpretations or festering in ways that hinder our work. We are all susceptible to blind-spots, so that we may not even be aware of what we are omitting or avoiding in our research, thereby producing tunnel vision and myopias. In this introduction, Davis and Irvine argue that reflection about precisely these gaps and difficult feelings may prove essential for developing new and interesting questions as well as comprehensive, responsive, and responsible research practices. Beginning with a biographical account about their own research dilemmas, they develop a conceptual frame for the three themes of this volume: Silences, neglected feelings, and blind-spots. They make a case for openly-and bravely-exploring the silences, painful feelings, and no-go areas that so often accompany social scientific research. While talking about silences, feelings, and blind-spots is not a panacea, they show why addressing and analysing them ultimately produces better research. Moreover, sharing such experiences helps break down the isolation which is endemic in academic work, allowing us to learn from our failures and provide an environment where research is more collaborative and less torturous.