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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 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
Person at laptop

Public Opinion Surveys

In this episode of Talking about Methods, Professor Linda Mulcahy talks to Professor Nicholas Biddle (Associate Director at the ANU Centre for Social Policy Research and Methods) about public opinion.

by Nicholas Biddle | 6 March 2024
The image shows a web of connected strings.

Linking Administrative Data and Surveys

In this episode of Talking about Methods, Professor Linda Mulcahy talks to Professor Ben Edwards (ANU) about the linkage of administrative data to surveys and longitudinal studies.

by Ben Edwards | 7 February 2024
A desk with several laptops, headphones, tea and snacks.

CSLS-ANU Quantitative Methods Series

The Oxford Centre for Socio-Legal Studies (CSLS) has co-produced a series on quantitative methods with colleagues from the Centre for Social Policy Research at the Australian National University.

7 February 2024
Photograph of an orange typewriter and a small bottle with dried flowers on a table.

Understanding Law through Objects

In this episode of Talking about Methods, Professor Linda Mulcahy talks to Dr Jessie Hohmann (Faculty of Law, University of Technology Sydney) about researching law through studying objects.

by Jessie Hohmann | 10 January 2024
Photograph of a stack of three leather-bound notebooks alongside an open notebook with a pen on a dark table.

Doctrinal Legal Method

In this episode of Talking about Methods, Professor Linda Mulcahy talks to Professor Kristin van Zwieten (Faculty of Law, University of Oxford) about doing doctrinal legal research.

by Kristin van Zwieten | 29 November 2023
A photo showing silhouettes of people doing construction work against a pale yellow sky.

Emotional Labour and Vicarious Trauma in Socio-Legal Research

In this special Talking about Methods double feature, we are sharing our interviews with Dr Marie Burton and Dr Shona Minson on emotional labour and vicarious trauma in carrying out research.

by Marie Burton & Shona Minson | 1 November 2023