Researching girls and violence: facing the dilemmas of fieldwork

Burman, M.J., Batchelor, S.A. and Brown, J.A. (2001) Researching girls and violence: facing the dilemmas of fieldwork. British Journal of Criminology, 41(3), pp. 443-459. (doi: 10.1093/bjc/41.3.443)

Abstract

This paper explores key methodological and analytical issues encountered in an exploratory study of teenage girls' views and experiences of violence, carried out in Scotland. Researching the ways in which girls conceptualize, experience and use violence raises a number of dilemmas due in part to the sensitive nature of the research topic, and the age and gender of those taking part. Drawing on feminist debates about objectivity, the role of the researcher, power relationships in the production of knowledge, and representation, this article highlights the difficulties of adapting such principles to the day-to-day practicalities of conducting empirical research on girls and violence. It shows how the research itself has been enhanced by having to engage with and work through this complexity.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This is a pre-copy-editing, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in British Journal of Criminology following peer review. The definitive publisher-authenticated version Burman, M.J. and Batchelor, S. A. and Brown, J.A. (2001) Researching girls and violence: facing the dilemmas of fieldwork. British Journal of Criminology, 41 (3). pp. 443-459. is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/bjc/41.3.443
• Keywords: Adolescents, Children, Females, Fieldwork, Methodological Problems, Objectivity, Researcher Subject Relations, Violence, Feminist Theory, Scotland, Sociology of Work
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Batchelor, Dr Susan and Burman, Professor Michele
• Authors: Burman, M.J., Batchelor, S.A., and Brown, J.A.
• Subjects: H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Sociology Anthropology and Applied Social Sciences
• Journal Name: British Journal of Criminology
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• ISSN: 0007-0955
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2001 Oxford University Press
• First Published: First published in British Journal of Criminology 41(3):443-459
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
22196	1	A view from the girls: exploring violence and violent behaviour	Michele Burman	Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC)	L133251018	Sociology