Exploring the psychology of weapon carrying and usage - version 1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A qualitative exploration of the proximal and distal factors and circumstances which motivate male offenders to carry and/or utilise weapons
IRAS ID
297163
Contact name
Lucy McCarthy
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 2 days
Research summary
The proposed research seeks to explore and understand the various factors and circumstances which motivate offenders to carry and/or use weapons in the community and prison. One of the aims of the present study is to employ a wider scope to the exploration of weapon usage in the UK, in order to further the understanding that the field of forensic psychology currently possesses in regard to the factors contributing to the carrying and usage of weapons.
Eligible participants will be in-patients on a Male Mental Health (MMH) or Personality Disorder (PD) Service at a specialist medium secure forensic mental health unit. A patient-centred approach adopting in-depth qualitative interviews using a ‘Grounded Theory’ methodology will enable theory generation in regard to the patient experience of weapon carrying and usage. Participants will be interviewed by the Co-Investigator over 1-2 sessions of up to 45-60 minutes duration. The process from the initial approach to participants to the dissemination of findings will take 9-18 months. The outcome of the research will be to further the theoretical understanding of weapon usage in the community and in prison in order to contribute to the ongoing development of violence prevention and reduction interventions within these settings.
REC name
London - Camberwell St Giles Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/LO/0750
Date of REC Opinion
13 Nov 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion