Insiders and outsiders: working with peer researchers in researching Muslim communities

Abstract

This paper draws upon our experiences as non‐Muslim researchers working on two local studies with Muslim communities in North London. The paper aims firstly, to consider issues of access and trust in the context of the current political climate, secondly, to critically explore the relationship between academics and community organisations, and thirdly, to discuss the opportunities and challenges involved in employing peer researchers. Our discussion utilises the concept of positionality to analyse the insider/outsider status of researchers (both peer researchers and academics) and its impact on the research process. In so doing, we analyse the complexity and multiplicity of identities and positionings and suggest the ways in which religion, ethnicity, gender and age may impact on the research process.

Keywords:

• peer researchers
• Community research
• Muslims
• insiders and outsiders

Notes

1. It is noteworthy that identifying obstacles to employment, the Bengali women spoke about a range of issues including caring responsibilities within the home, child care provision, skills, training and language, as well as the limited job opportunities within the locality. They rarely talked about their religion as a specific factor in shaping their attitudes to or opportunities for employment. That is not to suggest that their religion was irrelevant but rather urges caution in using religion as the primary frame through which to interpret all the experiences and attitudes of any specific population.

2. The high drop‐out rate may be partly explained by the fact that the researchers had been recruited during the summer period when many of them had free time. When college term resumed in the autumn, however, some found it difficult to devote the necessary time to the research work. As other writers have noted (De Winter & Noom, 2003; Minkler, 2004) peer researchers are usually paid at a relatively low level and it is difficult for them to sustain their momentum and commitment to a research project over an extended period of time. This is particularly the case if the fieldwork involves going beyond their close personal networks.