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Researching ‘dangerous’ and ‘problematic’ populations: some methodological reflections

Daniel Briggs (School of Law, University of East London, UK)

Safer Communities

ISSN: 1757-8043

Article publication date: 19 July 2010

122

Abstract

Ethnography has been an important research method that has given insight into ‘dangerous’ and ‘problematic’ populations. Yet, ethnographic methods with such populations are increasingly rare as the governance of social science research takes on an ever more intensified ‘risk assessment’ approach. Based on projects that made use of ethnographic methods undertaken from 2004 to 2008, this paper will try to offer some methodological reflections on working with ‘dangerous’ and ‘problematic’ populations such as mentally ill adults, those with antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs), crack cocaine users and gangs. It will call for greater consideration to be given to the use of ethnographic methods with such populations to inform policy and practice.

Keywords

Citation

Briggs, D. (2010), "Researching ‘dangerous’ and ‘problematic’ populations: some methodological reflections", Safer Communities, Vol. 9 No. 3, pp. 49-59. https://doi.org/10.5042/sc.2010.0395

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2010, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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