Insiders and outsiders: working with peer researchers in researching Muslim communities

This paper draws upon our experiences as non-Muslim researchers working on two local studies with Muslim communities in North London. The paper aims firstly, to consider issues of access and trust in the context of the current political climate, secondly, to critically explore the relationship between academics and community organisations, and thirdly, to discuss the opportunities and challenges involved in employing peer researchers. Our discussion utilises the concept of positionality to analyse the insider/outsider status of researchers (both peer researchers and academics) and its impact on the research process. In so doing, we analyse the complexity and multiplicity of identities and positionings and suggest the ways in which religion, ethnicity, gender and age may impact on the research process.