How to Build Rapport with Research Participants
Description
This workshop is designed for MSc and PhD students intending to conduct in-person or remote qualitative fieldwork. This workshop is best-suited for students who have not yet begun field research or work-based placements. This highly interactive workshop will explore the importance of trust in productive communication and the role of rapport in challenging power asymmetries. Participants will learn about the three ‘output channels’ of rapport: body, voice, and words, and learn how to interpret verbal and non-verbal communication patterns. For those conducting virtual research, the workshop will also cover opportunities and challenges around building trust and rapport in digital settings. The workshop will explore some common challenges to rapport, and explore options for when establishing trust with participants seems impossible. Lastly, participants will be offered real-life research scenarios with the opportunity to ‘role play’ and practice rapport-building skills with one another.
Learning Objectives
To explore the role of rapport in researcher-participant relationships and develop techniques for establishing and maintaining trust during fieldwork.
Participants will:
- Explore the importance of establishing and maintaining rapport with research participants;
- Consider ways to bond with participants while maintaining appropriate distance and healthy boundaries;
- Learn practical techniques for building trust and reading verbal and non-verbal cues