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International Studies in Phenomenology and Philosophy

Book | Chapter

182405

Should investigators introspect on their own pain experiences as study co-participants?

Simon van Rysewyk Carl von Baeyer

pp. 181-194

Abstract

The question of investigators introspecting on their own personal pain experiences in pain studies has received little attention in the literature. Study of this question may reflect ethical reservations about the many points at which self-interest may lead us to introspect on personal experiences through personal biases that in turn impair professional decision-making and perception. Despite this valid concern about research co-participation, we offer three reasons why investigators can introspect on personal pain as co-participants in their own pain studies. First, there is historical precedent for investigator participation and co-participation in scientific pain research using introspection as a study method. Second, general concerns about variability in self-report based on introspection on pain experience partly derive from true fluctuations in personal pain experience and perceived interests in self-reporting pain, not simply error in its scientific measurement. Third, the availability of the experiential–phenomenological method, a mixed research method for the study of human experiences, allows investigators to co-participate with naïve participants in their own studies by encouraging passive introspection on personal pain experiences.

Publication details

Published in:

van Rysewyk Simon (2016) Meanings of pain. Dordrecht, Springer.

Pages: 181-194

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-49022-9_11

Full citation:

van Rysewyk Simon, von Baeyer Carl (2016) „Should investigators introspect on their own pain experiences as study co-participants?“, In: S. Van Rysewyk (ed.), Meanings of pain, Dordrecht, Springer, 181–194.