title: Exchange and equality during data collection: relationships through story sharing with lesbian mothers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore how reciprocity is achieved through a method of self-disclosure, namely story sharing.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Self-disclosure through story sharing promotes trusting relationships between researchers and participants that support the collection of high quality data, particularly when participants are members of a marginalised group and may feel especially vulnerable when sharing sensitive information.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative study that examined the experiences of lesbian mothers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Strategies were carefully and deliberately implemented to engage in story sharing with the participants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Participants said that it made a positive difference to how safe and comfortable they felt once they knew at least some of the researcher's story.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The collection of rich data is improved by using story sharing as a means of establishing reciprocity in qualitative research.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Story sharing has the potential to improve the quality of the data collected in qualitative studies. However, strategies that promote the emotional safety of the researcher in this context will need further exploration.
authors.affiliation: University of Western Sydney, Australia. b.hayman@uws.edu.au
authors.forename: Brenda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hayman
authors.forename: Lesley
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wilkes
authors.forename: Debra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Halcomb
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D018452:Homosexuality, Female; D006801:Humans; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D033262:Narration; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000379:methods*; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012650:Self Disclosure; D035502:Trust