Dark events in (post-)conflict social settings: quantitative data-gathering issues and strategies

The paper emphasises the importance of ethical sensitivity, methodological adaptability, and reflexivity when studying dark events and deviant behaviour within socially complex settings. Focusing on dark events – organised controversial gatherings centered on past death and suffering – this paper addresses a growing yet under-researched area at the intersection of dark tourism, dark leisure, and collective memory studies. The characteristic deviant behaviours of organisers, performers, and/or attendees, combined with tense (post-)conflict social circumstances, complicate data gathering and elevate risks for both participants and researchers. Under such conditions, rigid randomised sampling is often unfeasible; instead, alternative strategies are necessary, requiring responsible and transparent implementation. In addition to field surveys, valuable – albeit often biased – data on deviance and dark events can be found online for (post-)conflict studies. These sources must be examined and interpreted critically, especially with regard to the limitations in knowledge creation processes.