Domestic Violence Research: Valuing Stories

Abstract

This chapter explores the role of qualitative research using interviews and focus groups in research about domestic violence. The chapter focuses particularly on the significance of the knowledge and experiences of workers who support battered women and of survivors of domestic violence. It discusses research techniques involving focus groups and one-to-one interviewing in this context and, drawing on the author’s experience, investigates some of the issues that arise with respect to these research approaches. The chapter discusses the significance, for focus group and interview participants, of contributing stories to the research process. It concludes with some observations about the obligations owed to interviewees and focus group participants by researchers and how such obligations might be fulfilled.

Keywords: domestic violence, research, focus groups, interviews