‘Messy Methods’: Navigating Vulnerabilities in the Interview Process

As a result of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO)​​​ engagement with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 and the Women, Peace and Security agenda, military personnel have been tasked with engaging with and implementing NATO’s interpretation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda, to do ‘gender work’ within the alliance. Dr Matt Hurley has been researching issues related to gender, sexualities, and diversity at NATO during that time. He has published widely on his research, and experienced the complexities, and personal vulnerabilities, that come with doing such research. In this talk, he will explore the qualitative methodological issues that have arisen in his research, and answer questions from the audience. There will be a moderated discussion and advice session regarding how these issues might play out in attendees’ PhD research, and how they can be navigated.

Outcomes:

Participants will:

• Develop understanding of doing qualitative research in elite, international agencies like NATO;
• Gain insight into the ‘messy’ nature of navigating complex research environments;
• Have the opportunity to discuss potential solutions when facing similar issues in their own research.

Contributors:

Dr Jon Dean is Associate Professor in Politics and Sociology at Sheffield Hallam University, and Director of Advanced Qualitative Methods for the WRDTP.

Dr Matt Hurley is a Senior Lecturer in Politics and IR at Sheffield Hallam University. His research explores gender and sexualities in international security with a focus on NATO. He has published ‘NATO, Gender and the Military: Women Organising from Within’ with Routledge, and a wide range of other articles and chapters on his experiences doing qualitative research.

Important:

1. This event is online only (attendees will receive a joining link by email).

2. Bookings will close at 9:00am on Friday 6th February.

3. When booking, we ask that you use your institutional (.ac.uk) email address and complete all fields of the booking form. Thank you for your understanding.