Methodological Challenges in Rural Criminology

Session Submission Type: Complete Thematic Panel

Abstract

Rural criminology is an emerging field that looks to address the relatively neglected, due to criminology’s urban-centric bias (Donnermeyer & DeKeseredy, 2014), issue of rural crime and criminality. Conducting criminological research in rural environments provides its own unique methodological challenges and concerns. In this panel, participants present and discuss some of the challenges they have encountered in their rural scholarship. Topics range from the exploration of domestic violence against women in rural settings, methamphetamine production and use in rural Oklahoma, theoretical application in rural crime studies and issues with quantitative data.

Sub Unit

• Area XII. Methodology / 60. Advances in Qualitative Methodology

Individual Presentations

• The Challenge of Gathering Violence Against Women Data in the Heartland: Reflections on Previous Research in Rural Communities - Walter Steven DeKeseredy, West Virginia University

• On Expanding the Data Diversity of Rural Criminology - Joseph Donnermeyer, The Ohio State University

• What’s Anhydrous Ammonia Got to Do with It? The Challenges of Researching Methamphetamine in Rural Oklahoma. - Rashi K. Shukla, University of Central Oklahoma; Danielle Stoneberg, University of Central Oklahoma; Kenzi Lockwood, University of Central Oklahoma

• Challenges with Quantitative Data in Rural Settings: Lessons Learned in the Northern Plains - Roni Mayzer, University of North Dakota; F. Matt Jones, University of Central Oklahoma