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University of Oxford Centre for Socio-Legal Studies

Talking about Methods

Welcome to Talking about Methods, a series of podcasts brought to you by the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies in Oxford. In each podcast, Professor Linda Mulcahy is in conversation with leading scholars in the field about how a variety of different research methods have informed their Socio-Legal work. From surveys to semi-structured interviews and beyond, we delve into the challenges, dilemmas, and unexpected twists and turns of empirical research. You will find a short reading list to accompany each talk to guide future reading. Enjoy!

View all of our episodes, categorised by methods and methodologies, at a glance here.

A feminist protest

Utopia as a Method

In this episode of Talking about Methods, Professor Linda Mulcahy talks to Aislinn Fanning, Cristy Clark, Zoe Tongue and Ruth Houghton about utopia as a method.

by Aislinn Fanning, Cristy Clark, Zoe Tongue & Ruth Houghton | 4 March 2026
A picture of archived documents from 1955

Making and Unmaking Archival Methods

In this episode of Talking about Methods, Professor Linda Mulcahy talks to Cris van Eijk about making and unmaking archival methods.

by Cris van Eijk | 4 February 2026
People walking on a square from the bird perspective

Walking Interviews

In this episode of Talking about Methods, Professor Linda Mulcahy talks to James Campbell about walking interviews.

by James Campbell | 7 January 2026
A long hallway with a walkway in a prison

Doing Research in Difficult Places: Prison

In this episode of Talking about Methods, Professor Linda Mulcahy talks to Professor Carolyn McKay about doing research in difficult places, such as prisons.

by Carolyn McKay | 26 November 2025
Rainbow colours in glitter

The Queer Judgments Project

In this episode of Talking about Methods, Professor Linda Mulcahy talks to Nuno Ferreira and Senthorun Raj about the ⁠Queer Judgments Project.

by Nuno Ferreira & Senthorun Raj | 29 October 2025
Women sitting at a table with a pen and a white piece of paper

Complex Consent Issues

In this episode of Talking about Methods, Professor Linda Mulcahy talks to Dr Ellie Whittingdale about complex consent issues.

by Ellie Whittingdale | 1 October 2025
Cinema, building with arabic and latin letters

Looking at Law and Legal Phenomena through the Lens of Arab Cinema and Drama

In this episode of Talking about Methods, Professor Linda Mulcahy talks to Dr Fatima Ahdash (Hamad Bin Khalifa University) about looking at law through the lens of Arab cinema and drama.

by Fatima Ahdash | 3 September 2025
A group of people connecting threads in an art gallery space.

Systematic Reviews

In this episode of Talking about Methods, Professor Linda Mulcahy talks to Dr Karen Schucan Bird about systematic reviews.

by Karen Schucan Bird | 9 July 2025
A rainbow on an old handwritten note book

Looking for Silences – Sexuality and Inheritance

In this episode of Talking about Methods, Professor Linda Mulcahy talks to Professor Daniel Monk about researching sexuality and inheritance.

by Daniel Monk | 11 June 2025
Picture of a group of women sitting on the floor

Participatory Research from an Anti-colonial Perspective

In this episode of Talking about Methods, Professor Linda Mulcahy talks to Dr Silvana Tapia Tapia about doing participatory research from an anti-colonial perspective.

by Silvana Tapia Tapia | 14 May 2025