Q methods study of vulnerability

Start date: 1 May 2022
End date: 30 April 2024
Funder: Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
Partners and collaborators: Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre
Primary investigator: Professor Adam Crawford
External co-investigators: Dr Kate Brown (Co-PI) (University of York), Dr Chris Devany (University of York), Dr Tobias Kammersgaard (University of York), Dr Öznur Yardımcı (University of York)

This project aims to understand how the police, health services, education providers, social care and other agencies providing core public services respond to and deal with people’s vulnerabilities.

We will explore how these services and those who use them understand and interpret the contested concept of vulnerability and how their understanding shapes people’s experiences and practice.

To explore these questions, the project will use Q methodology. This approach combines qualitative and quantitative methods to investigate the views of people directly involved in a particular topic. It offers a structured and transparent way of exploring beliefs and values. This allows the team to analyse the different points of view that exist around ‘vulnerability’ and how these shape policies and practices.

Project website

https://vulnerabilitypolicing.org.uk/q-methods-study-of-vulnerability/