Researching Rupture: Engaged and Ethical Research on Extreme Nature–Society Disruption

Abstract Global escalation in social and environmental disruption raises crucial methodological and ethical questions for researchers working in impacted communities. Interpretive social science and humanities research can make visible the experiences of those living through socio‐ecological “rupture”. Yet, there are important ethical and design challenges to face regarding: (i) the temporal and spatial scope of research; (ii) how we work with affective responses to extreme, cascading events; and (iii) how we address vulnerabilities and agency within shifting power relations. We examine these dilemmas through three case studies that illustrate why researchers need to reflect critically upon the purpose, design, and timing of research, and the demands of “being in the field” in crisis settings. Drawing on approaches from feminist and decolonial studies, critical disaster studies, and critical disability studies, we consider potential pathways to respond to these dilemmas, with the aim of catalysing further scholarly discussion about research in rupture settings.