Over-researched places: two perspectives from different contexts [abstract only]

The challenges of over-­researched places are clearly related to the issues of research quality and theory building. This paper focuses particularly on the ethics of engagement within over­-researched places as a significant challenge. However, it will further argue that it is the approaches to such ethical issues, in these kinds of contexts, which may influence whether the quality of the research can be defined as ‘weaker’ or ‘stronger’. Moreover, the paper raises further questions related to the consequences of various types of research, including research being done in the localities not only by academics but also by students, representatives of local and national authorities, journalists from various media etc. The discussion will include an exploration of issues of positionality and the challenges and opportunities related to different research methods. This paper will offer reflexive insights into the abovementioned issues based on two research projects that I have been engaged in. Both took place in over­researched contexts, but I approach them from two different perspectives: one perspective is that of a participant in post­conflict research based in the context of the Balkans; and the other is that of a researcher in a UK based engaged research project in a culturally and ethnically diverse neighbourhood.