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Title:
Context and Motive in the Perpetuation of Racial Harassment and Violence in North Staffordshire, 2004

Subject Categories:
Crime and law enforcement - Law, crime and legal systems
Community and urban studies - Society and culture
Race relations - Society and culture

Depositor(s):
Gadd, D., Keele University. Department of Criminology

Principal Investigator(s):
Gadd, D., Keele University. Department of Criminology
Dixon, B., Keele University. Department of Criminology
Jefferson, T., Keele University. Department of Criminology

Sponsor(s):
Economic and Social Research Council

Grant Number:
RES000230171

Abstract:
This project addressed the question of why some people engage in racially-motivated violence, and how their motivations for doing so intersect and/or conflict with publicly-expressed nationalist, racist/anti-racist, and religious sentiments. The research was conducted in North Staffordshire, and drew on documentary evidence, in-depth interviews with perpetrators and other individuals, and focus groups conducted with members of the local community. The research found that industrial decline had led to many people in North Staffordshire feeling a sense of loss, in that a whole way of life had gone, never to return. Very many white residents saw the presence of migrant and minority ethnic populations as an emblem of the local area's decline, and an uncomfortable reminder of their inability to secure decent lives for themselves and their families. Some of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable people were trying to cope with their feelings of shame, envy and disgust by projecting them often aggressively, sometimes violently onto migrant and minority ethnic groups and individuals.
Main Topics:
This data collection comprises anonymised transcripts of both individual and focus group interviews.

The individual interviews were conducted with 15 'perpetrators' (accused of, implicated in, or convicted of) racial harassment, each of whom was interviewed twice, and in one case three times. Topics covered include biographical details, family background, life experiences and offending behaviour.

Focus group discussions were held with 13 different groups within local communities in North Staffordshire. Respondents were asked about issues to do with their experiences of living locally, their sense of identity, attitudes towards asylum-seekers, and their views on racially-aggravated assaults.

Standard Measures
All individual perpetrators were interviewed using Hollway and Jeffersons' 'Free Association Narrative Interview Method' (see Hollway, W. and Jefferson, T. (2000) Doing Qualitative Research Differently, London: Sage).

Coverage:
Dates of Fieldwork: 2004
Country: England
Geography: Stoke-on-Trent; Staffordshire
Spatial Units: No spatial unit
Observation Units: Individuals
Kind of Data: Textual data; Semi-structured interview transcripts; Focus group transcripts

Universe Sampled:
Location of Units of Observation:Subnational
Population:Perpetrators of racial harassment and other members of local communities, resident in North Staffordshire during 2004.

Methodology:
Time Dimensions: Cross-sectional (one-time) study
Sampling Procedures: No sampling (total universe)
Number of Units: 15 perpetrators (31 individual interview transcripts) and 13 focus group transcripts
Method of Data Collection: Face-to-face interview; Focus group
Weighting: Not applicable

Language(s) of Written Materials:
Study Description: English
Study Documentation: English

Access:
Access Conditions: The depositor has specified that registration is required and standard conditions of use apply. The depositor may be informed about usage. See terms and conditions for further information.
Availability: ESDS Qualidata, UK Data Archive
Contact: Help desk: qualidata@esds.ac.uk

Date of Release:
First Edition: 27 March 2006

Copyright:
Copyright D. Gadd and B. Dixon

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