Abstract
Crises are turning points in human existence. Researchers - and, in particular, qualitative researchers - aid impacted publics in making sense of their circumstances, and as such, must carefully consider their role throughout the research process. We explore unique issues involved when conducting research at times and places in crisis. The research methods in crisis contexts are not unique, but the circumstance of their usage is. The trauma of a crisis is sudden and non-normative, exceeds current capabilities to meet demands, and disrupts collective perceptions, needs and understandings. As such, the crisis context engenders a nuanced approach to understanding the focal issues involved. In this chapter, we utilize an acronym - CRISIS - to suggest best practices for researchers investigating crises, and organize our chapter as follows: context; research transferability; intentional design; situating oneself; interpretation; and summation.