Tips and Tricks for Maintaining Wellbeing and Addressing Bias in Research

by Rob Dickinson

This blog offers advice on how to maintain wellbeing and address bias in research as a PhD candidate, as well as some broader discussion of how identity and privilege factor into this work.

Approaching the content

1. Focus on your passions

   There is a reason you have chosen to engage with this work. Reflect on your motivations for investigating these topics and hold onto that motivation. Allow your passion, anger, personal experiences, or whatever else might motivate you to do just that.

2. Remember, you are part of a community

   Recognize that you're not alone in this journey. Seek support from fellow researchers and allies, both for emotional sustenance and intellectual exchange. Building a network of peers can provide invaluable support and perspective.

3. If it doesn’t work out for you, that’s ok!

   Acknowledge when the work becomes too overwhelming. It's acceptable to step back or explore alternative avenues for activism and engagement. Your mental and emotional wellbeing should always take priority.

4. Acknowledge your biases

   Recognize that bias is inevitable, and it's crucial to address it transparently in your research methodology. By acknowledging your biases upfront, you can mitigate their impact on your work and maintain its integrity.

working with the content

1. Have a plan

   Before diving into your research, develop a plan for what you will do, how it will function, and how you will attempt to maintain your wellbeing as a researcher. Ideally find a partner or community to team up with.

2. set clear boundaries

   Understand your limits and preemptively establish boundaries to protect your mental health and prevent burnout. Knowing when to step away and prioritize self-care is essential for long-term sustainability.

3. take breaks!

   This applies to all work, but is still relevant and worth reminding here. Our brains only hold so much attention span. We all need breaks. Take them! This is perhaps the single most important tool against burnout. Take a 15 minute break between viewings of content, or even a 3 month break between papers if you need it.

4. Expect heavy criticism

   The easiest way to prevent or proactively respond to the inevitable criticisms your work will face is to predict what they will be and address them in your work before publication. Be particularly careful about validity concerns, potential lines of criticism, and attempts to delegitimize or invalidate your work.

5. don’t get distracted

   Stay focused on your research goals to avoid getting sidetracked by tangential inquiries. While it's natural to be curious about related topics, maintaining focus is key to producing high-quality research.

the role of identity and privilege

1. consider focusing your research on identities that you do not have

   Privilege is a definite resource. Researching identities you do not have allows a level of separation between your personal experiences and potential societal oppression or hatred being investigated. This can allow for an easier time maintaining wellbeing as a researcher. Further, this approach can allow for heightened intersectionality in the analysis performed while still allowing personal experiences of oppression to inform or contrast against other forms of oppression. Consider studying the oppression of those with different identities than your own, but always be aware that your own positionality and privilege will mean that you miss some things and emphasize others. That’s ok though - remember that objectivity is impossible!

2. alternatively, let your personal experiences inform your research

   For some, the personal oppression they experience may catalyze their motivation for research. In that case, consider this an opportunity to channel anger, frustration, anxiety, and other potentially unhelpful or unpleasant emotions into practical research. In this way, research like this can provide an outlet. There is no doubt that research is improved when informed by personal experience. However, be extremely careful when pursuing this approach that you still allow sufficient time and opportunity to disengage from these topics. Personal oppression can drive feelings of hopelessness or helplessness which can be extremely de-motivating and painful. Research can be a way to deal with those feelings, but it can also accentuate them.

Maintaining your wellbeing and addressing bias in research are ongoing processes that require self-awareness, resilience, and a supportive community. By implementing these strategies, you can navigate challenging research terrain while safeguarding your mental and emotional health.

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