Researching Intimacy in Families

An incisive engagement with the subject of intimacy and interpersonal relationships and the methods used to research families and personal life, this book introduces readers to contemporary conceptual and methodological frameworks for understanding intimacy and sexuality in families.

Joint Winner ofthe British Sociological Association Philip Abrams Memorial Prize 2009

'The book is an excellent systematization of both the debates shaping the field of family studies and the ones concerning methods to explore relational life and sensitive topics...highly recommended, especially to postgraduates and new researchers.' - Laura Centemeri, Sociological Research Online

'This is a very fine piece of work, well written and enjoyable with a sociological imagination at its heart...The book should be read widely, not only by those with an interest in families and intimate lives, but by anyone with an interest in reading good sociological thinking at work.' - BSA Philip Abrams Memorial Prize Judging Committee

'This is a rare book: both a methodological and conceptual handbook and an innovative exploration of the practices of intimacy in families. Jacqui Gabb offers exciting new methods for exploring those parts of family life that others have failed to reach. Her approach is unfailingly constructive in the way that she deals with concepts and theories, and she offers a new intellectual map for research in this fascinating area. More than this, she also provides evidence from her own research project on what can be achieved by this new multi-method and conceptually fluid approach. This book will become essential reading in no time.' - Carol Smart, Professor of Sociology, University of Manchester, UK

'Acreative and thoughtful book which challenges us to engage with a wide range of theories and methods in seeking to understand the multi-dimensionality of the intensities and passions of the lived experience of intimacy.' - Sasha Roseneil, Professor of Sociology and Social Theory, Birkbeck, University of London, UK

'In this award winning book Jacqui Gabb gathers the theoretical threads of 'intimacy' and shows us how these can be put to work in empirical research. Her introduction to the second edition is an exciting essay reviewing new developments in the field. Simultaneously subtle and accessible, the genre-busting book is both theoretical sourcebook and a practical guide to researching personal lives. I would recommend the book to students, teachers and researchers across the social sciences.' - Rachel Thomson, Professor of Social Research, The Open University, UK

'This is an important book which offers important methodological advances and an appropriately flexible combined method. The book should be essential reading for those who seek to record and understand the hugely complex and often disparate nature of the family.' - Sociology

'Researching Intimacy in Families is beyond doubt a rich source for PhD students and researchers designing studies within the field of family, childhood and intimacy.' - Feminist Theory

JACQUI GABB is Lecturer in Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, The Open University, UK.