Liminality, sensitivity and symmetry on research : methodological diffractions on brain death study

This paper presents a methodological diffraction on our research about brain death. We focus on describing those encounters between researchers and participants that are usually summarized as entrance to the field and consider them liminal moments. Drawing on the tensions and uncertainties, we suggest that these liminal moments, rather than constituting mere formalities, are accounting for our object of study. On the one hand, we argue that our research practices are involved in enacting such object. On the other hand, we perform a symmetrical turn to the ways in which sensitive topics are investigated and displace the notion of sensitivity from its enunciation as a property of given topics to conceiving it as a research practice. Finally, we argue for the need to approach liminal moments in research with a sensitivity capable of accounting for dissonance, interference and tension.