TY - CHAP
T1 - Cross-cultural and comparative research in Northern Ireland
T2 - insider, outsider, Other
AU - Eriksson, Anna
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - This chapter considers the shifting positionality of the researcher as insider–outsider–Other, while conducting qualitative and ethnographic research in a divided society. The research under discussion here took place in Northern Ireland, on the topic of community-based restorative justice initiatives that were set up and run by former paramilitaries. The fieldwork was essentially cross-cultural in nature, and a range of ethical dilemmas arose as a result, including conversations about religion and sport, the words and accents spoken, and challenges that occurred as a result of interviewing both police and former paramilitaries. The tension between communities, and between community and state, meant that the process of negotiating and keeping access, collecting data across different field sites, as well as dissemination of data, were all ethical challenges unique to cross-cultural research. From a perspective of positionality, the aim was to become and remain a “trusted outsider”, while traversing various ethical dilemmas with the aim of not being classified as the Other.
AB - This chapter considers the shifting positionality of the researcher as insider–outsider–Other, while conducting qualitative and ethnographic research in a divided society. The research under discussion here took place in Northern Ireland, on the topic of community-based restorative justice initiatives that were set up and run by former paramilitaries. The fieldwork was essentially cross-cultural in nature, and a range of ethical dilemmas arose as a result, including conversations about religion and sport, the words and accents spoken, and challenges that occurred as a result of interviewing both police and former paramilitaries. The tension between communities, and between community and state, meant that the process of negotiating and keeping access, collecting data across different field sites, as well as dissemination of data, were all ethical challenges unique to cross-cultural research. From a perspective of positionality, the aim was to become and remain a “trusted outsider”, while traversing various ethical dilemmas with the aim of not being classified as the Other.
KW - Ethics, research
KW - Cross-cultural research
KW - Othering
KW - Northern Ireland
KW - Transitional Justice
KW - paramilitary violence
U2 - 10.4324/9781003241515-6
DO - 10.4324/9781003241515-6
M3 - Chapter (Book)
SN - 9781032148670
SN - 9781032148687
T3 - Routledge Advances in Criminology
SP - 67
EP - 79
BT - Ethical Dilemmas in International Criminological Research
A2 - Adorjan, Michael
A2 - Ricciardelli, Rosemary
PB - Routledge
CY - Oxon UK
ER -