Researching Practises of Risk: Inside the social work office

Abstract

Very little research has been conducted on how statutory social workers undertake their risk investigations into alleged child abuse. Moreover, very little research has explored the risk discourses as utilised and understood by social workers. For my doctoral work, I set out to learn from child welfare workers as they ‘talked’ about risk, to hear the inconsistencies and hesitations about ‘risk’ within their working practises. A qualitative research strategy was designed, and this paper overviews that design and reflects on my research experience. This research strategy became my whare (traditional Maori tribal meeting house), my methodological house, where I drew strength in times of intellectual strain, and where I rested, as I undertook and successfully completed doctoral work. This paper is my methodological account of researching practises of risk within child welfare settings in Aotearoa/ New Zealand, something I struggled to locate in the literature as a beginning doctoral student.