Four Strategies for Human Trafficking Research

Abstract

To comprehend and frame our understanding of human trafficking, four distinct but sometimes overlapping strategies are typically used by stakeholders, wittingly or not, to understand its nature and scope: criminal justice, public health, human rights, and economic analysis. In the United States, research on the phenomenon of human trafficking is growing apace with increased public interest. Human trafficking is now widely recognized by advocates, law enforcement, and researchers as a complex and multi-faceted phenomenon that merits study. The negative impact of trafficking on its victims is profound and can be overwhelming for anyone seeking to intervene or learn more about its dynamics.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Nancy Hagan

Nancy Hagan, PhD, is a project analyst at the North Carolina Commission on Human Trafficking.

Margaret Henderson

Margaret Henderson, MPA, is a retired teaching associate professor who previously worked for the School of Government of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.