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Paper short abstract:

We will present the ethical and methodological dilemmas related to research on homeless people in Zagreb, focusing on the characteristics of field access and changes in research focus/position caused by immersion in the field (outsider/insider, etic/emic, participant observation/volunteer work).

Paper long abstract:

In this paper we will present the ethical and methodological dilemmas we have encountered while investigating certain aspects of the lives of homeless people in Zagreb. The research has been ongoing for more than a year and is related to the distribution of free meals for vulnerable groups of people organized by volunteer initiatives twice a week in the city center. According to some estimates, there are two thousand absolute homeless people in Croatia, half of whom live in Zagreb. In addition to the absolute homeless, the study also included people who are not homeless in the strict sense, but whose existence is threatened on a daily basis (unemployment, irregular employment, very low pensions, no property of their own, etc.). Special attention will be paid to the characteristics of field access and changes in research focus and our research position caused by immersion in the field and getting to know the research subjects (outsider/insider, etic/emic perspective, observation, participant observation/volunteering, etc.). The development of the relationship with the research subjects allowed us to gain a deeper insight into certain features of their lives, but from an ethical perspective led us to constantly question our research position, the appropriateness of classical and improvised methods, and the presentation of the results in a way that would give a clear voice to society and the relevant institutions while not threatening the dignity of the research subjects.