I'm doing my dissertation... help help help!

[v15ben]

I have hit that stage of uni where you finally do a bit of work for a change, the lovely dissertation!

My research question relates to the impact of the London Bombings and terrorism on the everyday lives of Muslims in Batley/Dewsbury and South Leeds.

As part of my research I am interviewing local Muslims from these areas to hear their opinions and analyse what other factors have a major impact on their lives and the significance of the London Bombings in this wider context.

I have struggled to find willing volunteers unfortunately, but I am trying every avenue I can to contact local people hence posting the thread here.

Is anyone on PH a local Muslim who would be willing to chat to me for this project?? Does anyone have friends, workmates and people they know who would be willing to give a short interview and discuss the subject I detailed above?

If you can help or know anyone that may be able to help, could you please please drop me an email so that I can arrange interviews and speak to as many people as possible?

Thanks very much
Ben

[StuB]

Ben, what about a carefully worded letter on headed paper from your unversity explaining the sensitivity of the subject and confidentiality you will respect on this subject,, to some of the religious centres even some of the community policing scheme's to get some decent support?

Hope this helps.

Stu

[v15ben]

Hi Stu

Thanks for the advice. I have contacted several centres and received a positive response from a number of them. I have arranged two open 'forum' style sessions where people can come along and talk openly with me about any of the subjects I have put forward. I hope this will attract a number of people and from this I will get more people (friends, family, workmates) who will also be happy to give a few minutes of their time and their opinions.

I have also had a long chat with the local Muslim Advisor who works with many inter-faith groups and is highly respected in the local community. His views were very interesting and hopefully this will lead me to more willing individuals who can share their opinions.

I have also contacted friends and people I know through work and social life (a local restaurant owner for example) as a way of initially finding their opinions and hopefully to snowball through them and find more people to speak to.

I realise my post here is very much an outside chance of finding a response, but I feel that any avenue that brings even one five minute discussion is a major bonus in this type of research.

[baz1985]

Ben, I might be able to help as a fellow local geographer. My MA dissertation is going along similar lines, but will focus upon the radicalisation of young British muslim men. Drop me a line at [e-mail].


Cheers

Baz

[neilesh86]

For my geog dissertation I too needed to access the views of ethnic minorities, I chose to post questionnaires to areas that obviously had a high concentration of ethnic minorities.

Do you know areas in Batley/S Leeds that have a high population of muslims? If not try using Leeds council to obtain info on which areas have a high conc'n and then send letters asking for info. As per the prev advice, send a letter w/ your uni's headed paper, I'd recommend you write your letter along with the one from uni, stating who you are, what you want to achieve and stress that people will remain anonymous...

Hope that helps!

[dxg]

There are strong ethical concerns with your chosen subject. Speak to your supervisor and find out what limitations your Institution might place on you in light of the work being an undergradaute (presumably) dissertation rather than a thesis. You definately want to check this aspect of the work out and certainly address it in your methodology chapter (and the method itself).

[nas123]

Hi mate, theres a programme on channel four tonight at 11.00 that you might find interesting?

[uk_ahmed]

I just came across these postings.... I am from the Batley/Dewsbury area, I maybe able to help in your research work..... Email me: [e-mail]