Abstract
Conducting research on sensitive subjects such as terrorism in sensitive places has the potential to cause both participants and researchers discomfort and distress. Therefore, identifying ways through which experiencing difficult emotions and researcher burnout can be prevented is imperative to the integrity of the research. This paper explores the challenges of interviewing people about terrorism in sensitive situations. It draws on existing literature regarding sensitive topics and the first author's field experience in Nigeria when collecting data about tourism and terrorism. It also highlights solutions employed and strategies that can assist during the data collection process. This paper is based on the study of fifty-two Nigerians who took part in semi-structured, personal interviews on domestic travel risks associated with terrorism. It is clear that participants may find discussing terrorism distressing due to its complex interaction with religion, politics, and ethnicity as well as personal experiences. This paper contributes to the literature by explaining the strategies that were employed and their implications for researcher and participant wellbeing.