Political Ideology and Research: How Neoliberalism Can Explain the Paucity of Qualitative Criminological Research

Abstract

Research has demonstrated that there is a paucity of qualitative criminological research published in journals. Neoliberal ideology reigns hegemonic in the United Kingdom, promoting competition and quantifiable success. With neoliberal narratives infiltrating the functioning of academia, researchers are required to cater their methodological choices to suit metrics and arbitrary university goals. Consequently, the pressure to publish frequently and in prestigious journals can coerce academics into prioritizing research quantity above quality. As qualitative methodologies often require more time to conduct and inherently convey a more complex ethical process, researchers can favor the quicker, convenient methods to the detriment of quality theoretical research.