ABSTRACT
Researching women’s journey towards desistance is far from a straight-forward endeavour. Beyond managing recruitment of a hard-to-reach population, you are setting out to make some form of sense of hugely complex and often extremely chaotic life-experiences, which in turn are embedded in ‘messy’ narratives. If this research task was not challenging enough, to then replicate this endeavour in diverse cultural contexts, without making too many compromises, adds a rather particular dimension to that undertaking. In many research monographs the methodology section is relegated to appendices, offered as non-essential reading for especially interested audiences. This is not the case for this book. The study is firmly located within the contours of qualitative interpretative research; specifically underpinned by a critical humanist perspective and governed by a feminist research agenda. Reflexivity and transparency is therefore a core part of the epistemological foundations, and to give meaning to the findings that will follow in the coming chapters, I believe it is essential that the reader has a clear understanding of the processes that produced them. This chapter is accordingly dedicated to outlining the methodological frameworks and approaches that were employed in this research project, including both theoretical justifications and practical aspects. A detailed presentation and defence of the research methods, including the suitability and applicability of the life-story narrative interview format, will be provided. Information regarding participant recruitment, selection processes and data limitations are also highlighted. The chapter is then brought to a close by drawing attention to key ethical processes and factors, which are essential considerations when researching sensitive topics with what is often vulnerable women on the edge of society.
