Walker, Charlotte (2026) The practical challenges of doing court-based research. Sage Research Methods.

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Abstract

This case study examines a research project which focused on understanding why defendants self-represent and their experiences of doing so. Observations of two magistrates’ courts and interviews with a range of court actors were conducted. The case study reflects on my experiences conducting this project from the perspective of an early career researcher. It addresses key matters, including how I accessed the criminal courts, which sampling techniques I used, how I recruited participants, and how I overcame obstacles during the research process. This reflection aims to help future researchers anticipate and navigate the practical challenges of doing research in courtroom settings.

Item Type:	Article
Status:	Published
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
School/Department:	School of Education, Language and Psychology
URI:	https://ray.yorksj.ac.uk/id/eprint/14394

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