Violence is a research topic that is fraught with difficulties. A notoriously sensitive subject, and one that is presumed to be largely hidden, researchers have long struggled with the question of how to measure its impact and how to explore its incidence. Arising from the ESRC's Violence Research Programme, Researching Violence is a practical guide both to theses problems and to the obstacles encountered when negotiating this uneasy terrain. Comprising the reflections of researchers who have worked on diverse projects - from violence in the home to racial violence and homicide - this book demonstrates the ingenuity and at times courageous actions of researchers having to think on their feet. It also investigates the ethical and emotional issues arising from working with the victims and perpetrators of violence. This book will be indispensable for students and academics doing research projects on violence.

Raymond M Lee is Professor of Social Research Methods at Royal Holloway, University of London. Elizabeth A. Stanko is Professor of Criminology at Royal Holloway, University of London, and Director of the ESRC Violence Research Programme.

Introduction Elizabeth A. Stanko and Raymond M. Lee Part 1: Documenting Violence: Counting and accounting for violence 1. Researching Violence in the Past: Quantifiable and Qualitative Evidence John E. Archer 2. Putting the Conflict Tactics Scale in Context in Violence from Parent to Child Susan Creighton, Deborah Ghate, Neal Hazel, Julia Field and Steven Finch 3. Researching Homicide: Methodological issues in the exploration of lethal violence R. Lewis, K. Cavanagh, R. E. Dobash, R. P. Dobash Part 2: Enhancing Data on Violence 4. Tracking the Pathways to Violence in Prison Kimmett Edgar, Carol Martin and Ian O'Donnell 5. Dilemmas of Control: Methodological implications and reflections of foreground in children's perspectives on violence Christine Barter and Emma Renold 6. Safety Talk, Violence and Laughter: Methodological implications and reflections on focus groups in violence research Leslie J. Moran, Beverley Skeggs, Paul Tyrer and Karen Corteen 7. Researching Violence: Power, social relations and the virtues of the experimental method Mark Levine 8. The Rising Tide of Female Violence? Researching girls' own understanding and experiences of violent behaviour E. Kay M. Tisdall Part 3: The Impact of Institutional Contexts for the Study of Violence 9. Fear of Reprisal: Researching intra-communal violence in Northern Ireland and South Africa Colin Knox and Rachel Monaghan 10. Veiling Violence: The impacts of professional and personal identities in the disclosure of work-related violence Maria O'Beirne, David Denney, Jonathan Gabe, Mary Ann Elston, and Raymond M. Lee 11. Researching Domestic Violence in a Maternity Setting: Problems and pitfalls Lorraine Bacchus, Gill Mezey and Susan Bewley 12. Racist Violence from a Probation Service Perspective: Now you see it now you don't Larry Ray, David Smith and Liz Wastell