Navigating Uncertainty: A Critical Methodological Reflection on Participatory Observation with Ukrainian Refugees in Romania

Introduction

This study investigates the impact of forced displacement caused by the ongoing war in Ukraine, which has generated one of the largest refugee crises in recent history. Romania has hosted more than 1.6 million refugees since February 2022, with women and children representing over 80% of this population. Minors under 18 constitute approximately one-third of the Ukrainian refugees currently residing in the country.

Goals and Methods

The paper offers a critical methodological reflection on eleven months of participatory observation conducted with 28 Ukrainian refugee families in Cluj-Napoca, between December 2022 and November 2023. As nine families later relocated to other countries, the study extended into a phase of digital ethnography through platforms such as Telegram and Facebook, enabling continued observation of transnational adaptation processes. The research combined immersive, in-person fieldwork, including home visits, accompaniment to institutions, and participation in community events, with digitally mediated exchanges.

Results

This hybrid approach provided an in-depth understanding of the refugees’ evolving coping mechanisms and everyday negotiations shaped by displacement, institutional opacity, and gendered caregiving roles. A key methodological challenge emerged from the dual positionality of the researcher, who frequently acted as translator, informal advocate, and cultural mediator. Although ethically complex, this engagement facilitated access to intimate dimensions of vulnerability and resilience that are often overlooked by conventional research methods.

Conclusions

The findings emphasize how systemic uncertainty, limited institutional support, and precarious labor conditions influence refugees’ adaptive strategies. The study underscores the methodological value of reflexive, longitudinal, and digitally extended participatory observation for researching crisis-affected and mobile populations.