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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 will be 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. The podcasts below are the first in a programme of podcasts about methods we will be developing at the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies in Oxford over the next couple of years. 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.

The picture displays a hand that is writing into an open notebook. A pjone and news paper are next to it.

Discourse Analysis

In this episode of Talking about Methods, Professor Linda Mulcahy talks to Dr Bettina Lange (Oxford Centre for Socio-Legal Studies) about discourse analysis in socio-legal research.

by Bettina Lange | 19 February 2025
A broken mirror on the floor reflecting the face of a young person

Vicarious Trauma through Research

In this episode of Talking about Methods, Professor Linda Mulcahy talks to Maureen Freed (University of Oxford) about vicarious trauma in the context of research.

by Maureen Freed | 5 February 2025
A photo of a yellow floor with a wheelchair symbol in black.

Learning from Disability Scholarship

In this episode of Talking about Methods, Professor Linda Mulcahy talks to Dr Flora Renz (Kent Law School) about engaging with disability scholarship in legal contexts. 

by Flora Renz | 11 December 2024
A post with colourful signs pointing to different places and sights. Close to Johannesburg, SA.

Doing Research from a South African Perspective

In this episode of Talking about Methods, Professor Linda Mulcahy talks to Professor Mandla J. Radebe (University of Johannesburg) about doing research in the South African context.

by Mandla J. Radebe | 13 November 2024
A slope in an outdoor museum with pictures of black persons walking up.

Colourism, race and power

In this episode of Talking about Methods, Professor Linda Mulcahy talks to Dr Varona Sathiyah about the complexity of colourism, race and power in the South African context and beyond.

by Varona Sathiyah | 16 October 2024
Persons walking a remote mountains

Hard to get at Research Groups

In this episode of Talking about Methods, Professor Linda Mulcahy talks to Dr Joseph Patrick McAulay  (Centre for Socio-Legal Studies, University of Oxford) about hard to get at research groups.

by Joseph Patrick McAulay | 18 September 2024
The photo shows a cross walk in pride colours in an urban setting. People are waiting to cross the street.

Queer Legal Geographies

In this episode of Talking about Methods, Professor Linda Mulcahy talks to Dr Kay Lalor (Manchester Metropolitan University) about queer legal geographies. 

by Kay Lalor | 24 July 2024
The picture shows shelves in an archive.

Working with Archives – Law and Historiography

In this episode of Talking about Methods, Professor Linda Mulcahy talks to Professor Michael Lobban (All Souls College, Oxford) about working with archives as a legal historian.

by Michael Lobban | 26 June 2024
Thick red velvet curtains, lit up with stage lights at a theatre

The Role of Theatre in Invoking Radical Empathy

In this episode of Talking about Methods, Professor Linda Mulcahy talks to Dr Mark Phelan (Queen's University Belfast) about the role of theatre in invoking radical empathy.

by Mark Phelan | 29 May 2024
A pile of playmobil

Retrospective Method

In this episode of Talking about Methods, Professor Linda Mulcahy talks to Dr Aino Suomi (Australian National University) about using retrospective methods.

by Aino Suomi | 1 May 2024
A group of people are gathered around a desk with laptops. One person is explaining something on a whiteboard.

Mixed Methods Evaluation Research

In this episode of Talking about Methods, Professor Linda Mulcahy talks to Professor Lorana Bartels (ANU Centre for Social Policy Research and Methods) about using mixed methods in evaluation research

by Lorana Bartels | 3 April 2024
Many women are standing on a feminist march. One holds a sign that reads

Feminist Oral History and Life Stories as a Radical Methodology

In this Talking about Methods, Linda Mulcahy talks to Anna Cole, Ellie Whittingdale, and Marie Burton about the potential of oral history and life story interviews as a radical and feminist method.

by Ellie Whittingdale, Marie Burton & Anna Cole | 8 March 2024