Objective researcher or emotional being?

Abstract

I am a second year PhD student exploring dyadic coping among spousal carers of partners living with dementia. In laying the foundations for my research, I have spent eighteen months attending and supporting two dementia cafés’. During this time, I have focused on better understanding dementia and its implications for spousal carers. I have also focussed on building a rapport with carers of those living with dementia so that they feel comfortable with my presence and to develop their trust in me. This is an important part of researcher integration which is all too often overlooked and can strengthen qualitative research findings (Collins & Cooper, 2014).