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UK experience of Freedom of Information as a method of enquiry

UK experience of Freedom of Information as a method of enquiry
UK experience of Freedom of Information as a method of enquiry
This chapter considers Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) as a viable tool for academic research. To date, journalist, campaigners or concerned consumers have been to the forefront in using FOIs to gain information on issues as diverse as politician’s expenses, the cost of policing a royal event or the levels of food hygiene in restaurants. Yet, this line of enquiry appears to be infrequently used by academic researchers. The chapter concentrates on the United Kingdom and will offer five areas for consideration. First, we consider the value of FOIs as a research tool. Second, we reflect upon some of the limitations to using FOIs in research. Third, we locate the FOIA within a broader process of modernising digital information and highlight some of the challenges that can present for researchers via this trend. Fourth, we review effective use of FOI in research. Finally, we offer some observations from our own nascent research project that is using FOIs as a key methodological approach. The chapter concludes by stressing the usefulness of the FOIA for researchers to produce democratising and politically impactful research. The chapter’s aim is to highlight the practicalities of applying this method of enquiry and to further its contribution to academic research.
38-49
Routledge
Spiller, Keith
d0ea9172-6ef6-4f80-9f34-2285b41ab237
Whiting, Andrew
a587eaf0-17b1-4508-b1c6-4cdc4c4537e3
Walby, Kevin
Spiller, Keith
d0ea9172-6ef6-4f80-9f34-2285b41ab237
Whiting, Andrew
a587eaf0-17b1-4508-b1c6-4cdc4c4537e3
Walby, Kevin

Spiller, Keith and Whiting, Andrew (2019) UK experience of Freedom of Information as a method of enquiry. In, Walby, Kevin (ed.) Freedom of Information and Social Science Research Design. London. Routledge, pp. 38-49. (doi:10.4324/9780429437717).

Record type: Book Section

Abstract

This chapter considers Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) as a viable tool for academic research. To date, journalist, campaigners or concerned consumers have been to the forefront in using FOIs to gain information on issues as diverse as politician’s expenses, the cost of policing a royal event or the levels of food hygiene in restaurants. Yet, this line of enquiry appears to be infrequently used by academic researchers. The chapter concentrates on the United Kingdom and will offer five areas for consideration. First, we consider the value of FOIs as a research tool. Second, we reflect upon some of the limitations to using FOIs in research. Third, we locate the FOIA within a broader process of modernising digital information and highlight some of the challenges that can present for researchers via this trend. Fourth, we review effective use of FOI in research. Finally, we offer some observations from our own nascent research project that is using FOIs as a key methodological approach. The chapter concludes by stressing the usefulness of the FOIA for researchers to produce democratising and politically impactful research. The chapter’s aim is to highlight the practicalities of applying this method of enquiry and to further its contribution to academic research.

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Published date: 12 December 2019

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 471975
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/471975
PURE UUID: dbf5c390-9e64-40e7-9c06-3f5561090e0c
ORCID for Keith Spiller: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-5796-8165

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Date deposited: 23 Nov 2022 17:34
Last modified: 06 Jun 2024 02:15

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Contributors

Author: Keith Spiller ORCID iD
Author: Andrew Whiting
Editor: Kevin Walby

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