ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book incorporates research experiences and methods applied from criminology, law, sociology, police studies and psychology. It scrutinises the epistemological and ontological perspective of border research methodology and outlines the difficulties in producing useful and critical scholarship. The book addresses the methodological challenges that critical scholars face when seeking numerical data and statistical knowledge in an emerging scholarly field. It focuses on the 'failures' that Johansen experienced in conducting research with irregular migrants in the field in Norway. The book covers the experience of interviewing these women and the daily realities of working with a translator. It explores the methodological implications of the identification processes in research on criminal justice and border controls. The book describes some methodological challenges of researching everyday life in immigration removal centres (IRC) in the UK. It examines the challenges and opportunities of researching life after immigration detention.
