Researching Rape Trials
Methods, Ethics and Empirical Perspectives
1st Edition
Will be published approx. on 18. August 2026
272 pages
E-Book
978-1-040-60895-1 (ISBN)
Description
Rape trials are inherently complex, often operating differently to other criminal trials. These trials are also complicated by the impact of societal attitudes about sexual offences, often referred to as rape myths, which can influence jurors' deliberations in rape trials. This book explores the variety of ways in which rape trials can be researched in order to determine how the laws in this area are applied in practice, and the extent to which attitudes and broader societal contexts can influence the trial process. Divided into three parts, Part I offers a guide on best practice in the various research methods which can be adopted to study rape trials. These include interviews with practitioners and victim-survivors; analysis of trial transcripts; trial observations; and jury research. Parts II and III provide a thematic overview of a variety of international case studies, demonstrating the rich insights which empirical research on rape trials can produce. All of the chapters are written by leading experts who have direct experience of conducting empirical research in this area. The book will be a valuable resource for a range of academics, practitioners, stakeholders and policy-makers researching and working in the area of sexual violence.
More details
Edition
1. Auflage
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Reflowable
Illustrations
2 Tables, black and white
ISBN-13
978-1-040-60895-1 (9781040608951)
Copyright in bibliographic data is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or its licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Susan Leahy | Eithne Dowds | Siobhan Weare
Researching Rape Trials
Methods, Ethics and Empirical Perspectives
Book
approx. 08/2026
1st Edition
Routledge
€191.50
Not yet published
Persons
Susan Leahy is a Professor in the School of Law at the University of Limerick, Ireland.
Eithne Dowds is a Reader in the Law School at Queen's University Belfast, UK.
Siobhan Weare is a Reader in Law at Lancaster University Law School, UK.
Eithne Dowds is a Reader in the Law School at Queen's University Belfast, UK.
Siobhan Weare is a Reader in Law at Lancaster University Law School, UK.
Content
Introduction, Susan Leahy, Eithne Dowds and Siobhan Weare; Part I: Research Methods and Ethics for Empirical Research on Rape Trials; 1: Methodological and Ethical Considerations in Mock-Jury Research, Madeleine Millar and Siobhan Weare; 2: Interviews with Professionals Who Work Within Rape Trials: Practical and Ethical Considerations, Eithne Dowds and Susan Leahy; 3: Observing Sexual Offence Trials: Public/ Private Predicaments, Natalie Kyneswood; 4: Research Design for Transcript Analysis Research Into Sexual Offence Trials, Julia Quilter and Luke McNamara; 5: Interviews with Survivors, Grace Carter, Sarah West, and Emma Sleath; Part II: Researching with Juries in Rape Trials; 6: Decision-Making in Rape Trials: A Gendered Lens, Rosie Cowan; 7: Profiling Jury Bias in Rape Trials: Examining the Link Between Juror Characteristics and Trial Decisions, Dominic Willmott, Daniel Boduszek and Nigel Booth; 8: 'All the World Is a Stage': The Role of Adversarialism, Advocacy and Assumption in Scottish Rape Trials, Vanessa E. Munro, Sharon Cowan and Eamon Keane; Part III: Empirical Insights on the Rape Trial Process and Procedures; 9: The Impact of Statutory Reform on Sexual Offence Trials: Insights from Transcript Analysis Research in Australia, Julia Quilter and Luke McNamara; 10: Bearing Witness: Insights from the Northern Ireland Court Observers' Panel, Louise Kennedy; 11: Rape Law Reform and Practice: Perspectives from Criminal Barristers in England and Wales, Anna Carline and Clare Gunby; 12: 'Telling Their Story'? Victim-Survivor Voice and Participation in Rape Trials and Research, Oona Brooks-Hay and Michele Burman; Conclusion: Researching Rape Trials: Conclusions and Future Directions, Susan Leahy, Eithne Dowds and Siobhan Weare.
