Missing People aims to act as a hub for research about missing in the UK. On this page you will find information about ongoing research projects, and how to find out more about conducting research about missing.

We administer a research forum via a JISCmail mailing list. You can sign up to the list by visiting http://bit.ly/z2a0cU The list aims to connect researchers and practitioners with an interest in missing and related topics. The list is a way for people to seek advice and guidance, to hear about new and ongoing projects, and to find out about new research reports when they are published.

Current research projects about missing people

The experiences of, and impact on, children and adolescents when a family member is missing

This study aims to explore the emotional, psychosocial and practical experiences of children and adolescents when an immediate family member goes missing. The study will employ a cross-sectional qualitative research design in order to obtain richness of data. Purposive sampling will be used to recruit a small and fairly homogenous sample of participants. Data will be collected through the use of face-to-face semi-structured interviews (using an interview schedule), which will be audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA)⁶ in order to identify emergent and superordinate/subordinate themes. Participants will be children and young people between the ages of 8 and 16, and older family members who have supported them. It is hoped that between six and ten people will agree to take part and share their experiences.

If you are aged between 8 and 16, or if are you the parent of a young person between these ages, and you would like to find out more, you can look at the recruitment page http://www.missingpeople.org.uk/missing-people/latest-news/have-you-been-affected-by-a-family-member-going-missing or contact the lead researcher, Jennie Norris (Clinical Psychologist in Training) on 07765 004112 or j.norris@herts.ac.uk

Geographies of missing people: processes, experiences and responses

This project seeks to understand the realities involved in 'going missing', and will do so from multiple perspectives; using the voices and opinions of the police, families and returned missing people themselves. This data can shed light on a significant social (and spatial) problem and help us understand more about the nature of missing experiences. This study will be the first substantial UK study to incorporate the views of returned adult missing people (and their families) via face-to-face in-depth interviews, in order to get behind the news headlines, and to understand what is at stake for all involved.

From time to time the research team will be recruiting participants. When this happens there will be more information on this page.

http://www.geographiesofmissingpeople.org.uk