Researching Gender, Violence and Abuse

Nicole Westmarland is Director of Durham University Centre for Research into Violence and Abuse (CRiVA), where she is also Professor of Criminology and Head of Department of Sociology. She has researched a range of different forms of violence against women and is deeply committed to conducting research that can create real world change. She is Vice Chair of Darlington and Co. Durham Rape and Sexual Abuse Counselling Centre. She is the author of a number of books and articles, including Violence Against Women: Criminological Perspectives on Men’s Violences (Routledge). Hannah Bows is Deputy Director of CRiVA and Assistant Professor in Criminal Law at Durham Law School. Her research focuses on different forms of violence against women, particularly domestic and sexual violence. Her recent work includes a national study of rape against older people, a national study profiling homicide of older people and a study exploring ‘risk’ in relation to older sex offenders and policing. Outside of the university, she is the deputy director of the BSC Victims Network, Chair of Age UK Teesside and sits as a Magistrate on the Durham and Darlington bench.

"This is an essential companion for researchers on domestic and sexual violence. Whether their data comprises voices, numbers, images, or something else, new and established researchers alike will find invaluable guidance on effective ways to generate new knowledge and use this to make a difference."Dr Michael Flood, author of Engaging Men and Boys in Violence Prevention"This timely and authoritative book is an immensely readable account of the philosophies, principles and practices of feminist-informed methodologies used in researching gender-based violence. It engages with critical questions of theory, politics and ethics and through its use of case studies and the provision of excellent examples of the application of feminist research will no doubt excite and inspire both new and experienced researchers." Michele Burman, Professor of Criminology, University of Glasgow

• 1. Introduction, Part I: Feminist approaches to research. 2. The principles of feminist research, 3. Ethical considerations when researching gender, violence and abuse, 4. Multidisciplinary and partnership working, Part II: Research methods. 5. Interviews and focus groups, 6. Conducting surveys, 7. Arts-based and creative methods, 8. Working with existing data, 9. Ethnography, Part III: Research praxis - Using feminist research. 10. Influencing and being influenced by activism, 11. Using research to influence policy and practice, 12. Afterword