Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Drawing upon my fieldwork experience in East Africa, this article sheds light on emerging phenomena of ‘over-researched’ and ‘under-researched’ refugee populations. Over the past years, I have increasingly encountered ‘research fatigue’ amongst certain groups of refugees who have undergone frequent studies by numerous researchers. On the other hand, I have also noticed disappointment and frustration from groups of refugees who feel that they remain ‘under-studied’ despite their hidden challenges and vulnerabilities. While the phenomena of over- and under-research are not new, few studies are done to compare the under- and over-studied refugees and to investigate the causes and consequences of the polarisation of research interest amongst refugee populations. This article thus aims to narrow these gaps and also explores these phenomena in relation to accountability and ethics related to forced migration scholarship. I also present practical actions toward improvement of this research polarisation.

More information Original publication

DOI

10.1093/jhuman/huaa049

Type

Journal article

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Publication Date

06/01/2021

Total pages

15