104 pages · 2024
Ethics in Qualitative Criminological Research
Risks, Boundaries, Emotions, and Reflexivity
By Mohammed Rahman · Ross Deuchar
- Published
- July 17, 2024
- Imprint
- Routledge
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- ISBN
- 9781003304746
Overview
About this book
Providing academic insights, reflections, and practical guidance on ethically conducting qualitative criminological research, this book emphasizes real-life examples to navigate research risks, boundaries, and emotions, while spotlighting reflexivity as a pivotal tool for qualitative inquiries, serving as an ethical compass throughout the research process.
By engaging with this book, readers will be exposed to critical themes of managing risks, including physical harm and psychological trauma, navigating boundaries, dealing with the intense emotions that surface during research, and the importance of reflexivity in qualitative criminological research. The themes are illustrated through real-life examples that the authors have encountered during their fieldwork, using reflexive practices to highlight how they were able to ethically deal with unforeseen challenges. By presenting solutions, asking critical questions, and offering practical recommendations, the book guides readers on mitigating ethical issues, and provides a comprehensive approach to conducting research responsibly and ethically.
Ethics in Qualitative Criminological Research will be useful for undergraduate and postgraduate students, academic researchers and practitioners with an interest in conducting research, and pracademics occupying both practitioner and academic roles.
Subjects
Law, Research Methods , Social Sciences
Inside the book
Table of contents
Select a chapter to read its abstract.
Chapter 1Philosophy, Ethics, Research Governance, and Reflexivity
Pages: 12
This opening chapter offers an introductory understanding of ethics as a keystone branch of philosophy. It then considers the governance of ethics and the significance of reflexivity as a continuous ethical exercise throughout all research-related activities. Finally, we consider the rationale of the book, provide a summary of each chapter, and then conclude the chapter. In doing so, this chapter sets out the parameters of the book and charts the significance of ethics broadly and within criminological research.
Chapter 2Dealing with Risks
Pages: 25
This chapter considers the prevalent issues that researchers must consider before pursuing research. We start by considering the notion of inception, which consists of going through an ethics committee process. Based on our experiences of applying for ethical approval in our respective academic institutions, this chapter will consider prevalent questions that you will need to answer as an ‘applicant’, and what reviewers will look out for when reviewing the submitted application. The chapter also offers illustrative examples of how research projects have changed after ethical approval has been granted and offers examples that can help prevent applicants from being at risk as well as putting those researched at risk. As such, this chapter offers examples, practical advice, and guidance for those pursuing primary research.
Chapter 3Dealing with Boundaries
Pages: 16
Criminological research of a qualitative nature often requires the immersion of self within the fieldwork, as a means of establishing positive engagement with research participants and the environment in which the study is situated. To some extent, this means the boundaries between the researcher and participants can easily become ‘blurred’. Through original and reflexive accounts, this chapter focusses on the issue of boundaries inherent in criminological research and concludes by offering relevant strategies for researchers that may be helpful when managing such boundaries during their fieldwork.
Chapter 4Dealing with Research Emotions
Pages: 16
This chapter draws attention to the emotional labour of criminological research. Following an exploration of extant literature in relation to ‘emotions’ in qualitative research, the chapter considers through novel perspectives how emotions can be managed effectively, and at times, applied to the actual research. For example, illustrative examples are presented of Deuchar's experiences in the field while working with reformed or reforming gang members, members of organised crime groups, and men in prison who often opened up emotionally during interviews while reflecting on their personal experiences of trauma and violence. The chapter provides some key illustrations of how Deuchar managed his research participants’ and his own emotions during fieldwork.
Chapter 5Research Publication, the Future of Research Ethics, and Practical Recommendations
Pages: 19
This chapter concludes the book by summarising the previous chapters and reinforcing the main arguments that were extensively explored. Before doing so, we discuss the publication of research, which from our experiences can be a rewarding yet a challenging academic endeavour. This chapter also considers the ethical concerns associated with research in a world that is increasingly becoming dependent on artificial intelligence (AI) and the implications this has on research activity. Practical recommendations are offered in this chapter on how researchers can successfully produce qualitative criminological research while robustly adhering to ethical principles.