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Sociology
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`We're Over-Researched Here!'

Exploring Accounts of Research Fatigue within Qualitative Research Engagements

Tom Clark

University of Sheffield, t.clark{at}sheffield.ac.uk

Despite a number of references to research fatigue and over-researching in the literature, the concepts have yet to be empirically investigated within qualitative contexts. This article, therefore, seeks to explore how researchers understand and account for research fatigue and over-researching. Using the results generated from a grounded analysis, a number of precursors are identified and discussed. These include lack of perceptible change attributable to engagement, increasing apathy and indifference toward engagement, and practical causes such as cost, time, and organization. It is suggested that marked levels of research fatigue are likely to occur where the mechanisms that challenge research engagement increase and the supporting mechanisms decrease. Furthermore, claims of over-researching are likely to be reported in contexts where repeated engagements do not lead to any experience of change or where the engagement comes into conflict with the primary aims and interests of the research group.

Key Words: costs and benefits • non-engagement • over-researching • refusal • research fatigue • withdrawal

Sociology, Vol. 42, No. 5, 953-970 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/0038038508094573
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