The use of vignettes that are based upon fictionalised accounts is well-established in contemporary social science. Vignettes have been used in a variety of ways to contribute to studies with both a quantitative and a qualitative orientation. This paper reflects on two recent qualitative studies which have made innovative use of ‘real-life’ vignettes. In each case, the paper describes some of the unanticipated and overlapping benefits that accrued from their incorporation into the research design and reflects on the advantages that ‘real-life’ vignettes might bring to future research. Drawing on two different research projects, the paper highlights the further potential contribution of ‘real-life’ vignettes to the repertoire of research methods currently available to social scientists.

Drawing on analysis of relevant literature, focus groups, and web-based discussion board postings, assembled as part of an inquiry into risks to the well-being of qualitative researchers, it is argued that emotional harm is more prevalent than physical harm and may be particularly associated with reflexivity and the important influence of feminist research methods. The particular concern of feminist researchers with reflexivity, with research relationships and with the interests of research participants may make them especially vulnerable to emotional harm.

This ar ticle considers the challenge of regulation across national borders using the example of the shipping industry. It examines the success of different global regulator y strategies in the sector, specifically the implementation of smar t regulation and enforced self-regulation. In doing so it draws upon empirical research into the enforcement of labour standards via por t-State control in India, Russia and the UK, and the regulation of training in Singapore, Philippines and the UK. It concludes that effective global regulation faces considerable challenges. Within the relatively conducive environment of shipping it finds that smar t regulation has been vitiated by perceived inconsistency in inspection practice and that enforced self-regulation has been rendered less effective by cross-national differences in resourcing and regulator y commitment, compounded by the difficulties of paper-based validation. It argues that, in relation to issues of effective global governance, the shipping industr y may stand as a critical case.

In recent years mental health has been identified as a significant issue for the global workforce. In the shipping industry charities and insurance companies have raised concerns about seafarers’ mental health and wellbeing and have suggested a range of largely reactive and behaviour-based remedies and risk mitigation strategies. This paper contributes new data to the existing debates around seafarers’ welfare and mental health by exploring stakeholder and employer attitudes and approaches to the mental health and wellbeing of seafarers working aboard deep-sea cargo vessels, alongside the views and perceptions of active seafarers themselves. Unusually, the central focus is on what seafarers themselves consider to be supportive of their own happiness and wellbeing. Drawing on these two major sources of data the paper recommends a range of practical steps which should be taken by employers to mitigate seafarers’ exposure to a variety of risk factors associated with unhappiness and poor mental health. These recommendations relate to the shipboard provision of communication facilities, food, recreational facilities, shore-leave, work to leave ratios, bullying and harassment, furnishings, officer training and the provision of counselling services.

This article draws upon recent, detailed, research into the assessment practices of six seafarer labour supply countries in connection with the issue of licences. It outlines the different forms of assessment practiced and includes the relatively recent introduction of computer-based assessment in some states. In considering the validity and appropriateness of the assessment procedures, currently in use, the paper references, and presents, the views of a sample of employers who regularly recruit seafarers to work upon internationally trading deep-sea vessels.