Delving Into the Unknown: An Experience of Doing Research With d/Deaf Prisoners

Abstract

This article acts as a reflexive account of my experience of doing qualitative research with d/Deaf people in a prison setting. This research was the first in England and Wales (excluding small-scale unpublished undergraduate dissertations) to include semi-structured interviews with multiple d/Deaf prisoners, and thus the journey documented is both innovative and unique. Because I was entering unmarked territory methodologically, my experience was laden with obstacles, as is discussed throughout. Key issues explored relate first to the process of gaining access to d/Deaf prisoners, second to researcher–participant language barriers, and third to issues of ethics and authenticity generated by the Deaf participants’ preference for a visual language (British Sign Language) in a setting like prison. Guidance is given throughout about how to overcome complex methodological issues, and concluding remarks include a set of recommendations for prospective researchers.