Dilemma of Sensitive Research:Grief, Roadside Memorials, and Qualitative Research Paradigms

Art Jipson, PhD. University of Dayton, CJS Program

Thank you for opportunity Thank you for opportunity to discuss this researchto discuss this research

Project 1999 to presentProject 1999 to present

I became interested in I became interested in

the symbolic, emotional, social, and the symbolic, emotional, social, and criminological components to these criminological components to these memorialsmemorials

Roadside Memorials ProjectRoadside Memorials Project The project has focused on ascertaining the reasons that The project has focused on ascertaining the reasons that

led some people to erect a commemoration to a loved one led some people to erect a commemoration to a loved one or a friend who died as a result of an automobile accident. or a friend who died as a result of an automobile accident.

The research has taken multiple tracks: The research has taken multiple tracks:

(1) Interviewing erectors of memorials,(1) Interviewing erectors of memorials,(2) individuals who are connected to the memorials,(2) individuals who are connected to the memorials,(3) content analysis of written material on roadside and (3) content analysis of written material on roadside and other memorials,other memorials,(4) and collection and analysis of data on the laws in the (4) and collection and analysis of data on the laws in the fifty states.fifty states.

Research ChallengesResearch Challenges

Data Collection was a critical issue for this Data Collection was a critical issue for this projectproject Snowball sampling techniquesSnowball sampling techniques Newsprint, Internet, recruitment letters left at Newsprint, Internet, recruitment letters left at

memorial sitesmemorial sites Sensitivity was a concernSensitivity was a concern Community issuesCommunity issues Informed consent and data collectionInformed consent and data collection

Visual Research ComponentVisual Research Component

Digital Photography of MemorialsDigital Photography of Memorials Video of MemorialsVideo of Memorials

Interview process of review of memorial Interview process of review of memorial images and symbols with the erectors of images and symbols with the erectors of the memorialthe memorial

Selected Interview DataSelected Interview DataI have interviewed 409 individuals involved in 219 MemorialsI have interviewed 409 individuals involved in 219 Memorials(not all are listed below due to confidentiality requirements)(not all are listed below due to confidentiality requirements)

Midwest:Midwest:

Ohio (78)Ohio (78) Kentucky (45)Kentucky (45) West Virginia (15)West Virginia (15) Pennsylvania (14) Pennsylvania (14) Illinois (13)Illinois (13) Indiana (16)Indiana (16) Minnesota (3)Minnesota (3) Iowa (2)Iowa (2)

South:South:

North Carolina (24)North Carolina (24) South Carolina (15)South Carolina (15) Georgia (21)Georgia (21) Tennessee (16)Tennessee (16) Arkansas (2)Arkansas (2)

East:East:

Massachusetts (8)Massachusetts (8) Delaware (5)Delaware (5) Massachusetts (7)Massachusetts (7)

Demographics of ErectorsDemographics of Erectors RaceRace 70% white, 20% African-American, 10% 70% white, 20% African-American, 10%

Hispanic or Mexican-AmericanHispanic or Mexican-American Project was focused along roadways outside of metro areasProject was focused along roadways outside of metro areas

KinshipKinship 95% family members, 5% friends or others 95% family members, 5% friends or others Most erectors are familyMost erectors are family

GenderGender 80% erected by women/ 20% erected by men80% erected by women/ 20% erected by men 60% were mothers, sisters, wives60% were mothers, sisters, wives

ClassClass 70% of erectors earn less than $120,000 70% of erectors earn less than $120,000 annually annually Most erectors were in the middle classMost erectors were in the middle class

Content AnalysisContent Analysis I have also conducted content analysis on over I have also conducted content analysis on over 137137

newspaper and print articles, television and radio newspaper and print articles, television and radio programs, and letters to the editors written on roadside programs, and letters to the editors written on roadside memorials. memorials.

This analysis has helped This analysis has helped contextualizecontextualize roadside roadside memorials in the local and national consciousness. memorials in the local and national consciousness.

In addition, I have also reviewed the In addition, I have also reviewed the scholarly literaturescholarly literature in literature, criminology, popular culture, cultural in literature, criminology, popular culture, cultural geography, and sociology on roadside memorials and geography, and sociology on roadside memorials and other forms of spontaneous public commemoration. other forms of spontaneous public commemoration.

Little written on Roadside Little written on Roadside MemorialsMemorials

Little scholarly workLittle scholarly work has focused on has focused on roadside memorials.roadside memorials.

Instead research has focused on well-Instead research has focused on well-known large projects such as sanctioned known large projects such as sanctioned historical markers or approved grieving historical markers or approved grieving spaces (such as national cemeteries)spaces (such as national cemeteries)

Why erect a Roadside Why erect a Roadside Memorial?Memorial?

GriefGrief Private MarkerPrivate Marker Public ServicePublic Service

Public MarkerPublic Marker Warning about dangerWarning about danger Slow DownSlow Down

Other MarkersOther Markers In all of my interviews, the roadside memorial In all of my interviews, the roadside memorial

is an addition to a conventional gravestone.is an addition to a conventional gravestone.

It does not replace a gravestone in a It does not replace a gravestone in a cemeterycemetery

The Memorial is PowerfulThe Memorial is Powerful

For every single person involved in For every single person involved in erecting a memorial that I have erecting a memorial that I have interviewed, all of them stated that the interviewed, all of them stated that the roadside memorial was more meaningful roadside memorial was more meaningful to them than a gravestone in a cemetery.to them than a gravestone in a cemetery.

Massachusetts MemorialMassachusetts Memorial

Owensboro, KY MemorialOwensboro, KY Memorial

SR 127 OhioSR 127 Ohio

SR 127 OhioSR 127 Ohio

Massachusetts Memorial 2Massachusetts Memorial 2

Massachusetts Memorial 3Massachusetts Memorial 3

MA Memorial 3, note the car partMA Memorial 3, note the car part

MA Memorial 3, note the objectsMA Memorial 3, note the objects

MA Memorial 3, long shotMA Memorial 3, long shot

Massachusetts Memorial 6Massachusetts Memorial 6

A memorial near the Dayton MallA memorial near the Dayton MallIt is important to note that as is demonstrated in the pictures that follow that some memorials can be quite elaborate in a variety of ways.

A Roadside Memorial from A Roadside Memorial from Hamilton, OhioHamilton, Ohio

A memorial near downtown A memorial near downtown Hamilton, OhioHamilton, Ohio

Even small memorials demonstrate attention to detail and obvious care.

Common ThemesCommon Themes

Symbolism (mostly crosses)Symbolism (mostly crosses) NamesNames DatesDates Flowers (plastic and real)Flowers (plastic and real) Personal notes, mementos, Personal notes, mementos,

picturespictures Personal items of the deceasedPersonal items of the deceased Use of colorUse of color

TouchstoneTouchstone

““She was so much more than a mere She was so much more than a mere name in a newspaper. She was my sister name in a newspaper. She was my sister and I loved her and I want everyone to and I loved her and I want everyone to know that she was here and she made a know that she was here and she made a difference in people’s lives while she was difference in people’s lives while she was here.”here.”

No BoundariesNo Boundaries

““My grief knows no bounds… no road, no My grief knows no bounds… no road, no highway, no grassy field can separate me highway, no grassy field can separate me from where my son took his last breath. It from where my son took his last breath. It is my hope that his memorial will make the is my hope that his memorial will make the road safer.”road safer.”

Civic Engagement and Public Civic Engagement and Public ConcernConcern

““Her memorial represents life and death Her memorial represents life and death and how quickly we can move from one to and how quickly we can move from one to the other.”the other.”

““We… I… had to do this. I was CALLED We… I… had to do this. I was CALLED to put it up. People need… and still need to put it up. People need… and still need to know… that he as here. That he to know… that he as here. That he mattered to us. And this could happen to mattered to us. And this could happen to anyone.”anyone.”

Qualitative Research Qualitative Research

Challenges arose from the discussion of Challenges arose from the discussion of sensitive issues central to the display of sensitive issues central to the display of grief for erectors of memorialsgrief for erectors of memorials

- Would I be emotionally connected - Would I be emotionally connected to to the memorials to the erectors? the memorials to the erectors? Would Would doing so assist with the doing so assist with the research or research or “get in the way”“get in the way”

(feminist research and Sociology of emotions)(feminist research and Sociology of emotions)

Potential Benefits vs. Potential Benefits vs. DiscomfortDiscomfort

Positive reflectionPositive reflection Pacing of interviews was critical to the outcomePacing of interviews was critical to the outcome

Emotional painEmotional pain What would I do if grief became overwhelming?What would I do if grief became overwhelming? Provided information on counseling (though few Provided information on counseling (though few

utilized it)utilized it) Confidentiality vs. Public displays of grieving Confidentiality vs. Public displays of grieving

Different States have different LawsDifferent States have different Laws

State and local governments have responded State and local governments have responded differently to roadside memorials. differently to roadside memorials.

West Virginia, for example has explicit legislation West Virginia, for example has explicit legislation meant to regulate the size and placement of meant to regulate the size and placement of these memorials in its borders. these memorials in its borders.

Other states, such as Ohio, view roadside Other states, such as Ohio, view roadside memorials as a hindrance to travel and therefore memorials as a hindrance to travel and therefore consider them illegal. consider them illegal.

RightsRights

Not all states have legislation that directly Not all states have legislation that directly applies to roadside memorials. applies to roadside memorials.

However the erectors of memorials speak about However the erectors of memorials speak about their rights…their rights… ““The memorial takes nothing away from anybody The memorial takes nothing away from anybody

else, nothing at all… I have the right to do this.”else, nothing at all… I have the right to do this.”

Removal and MemorialsRemoval and Memorials

As I began interviewing individuals and family As I began interviewing individuals and family members who erected roadside memorials it members who erected roadside memorials it became increasingly apparent that county became increasingly apparent that county and local law enforcement are often unwilling and local law enforcement are often unwilling to remove a memorial out of respect to the to remove a memorial out of respect to the grieving parties.grieving parties. There is agreement that there is a right to place a There is agreement that there is a right to place a

memorial…memorial…

Law Enforcement and RemovalLaw Enforcement and Removal

Removal happens infrequently even if there is Removal happens infrequently even if there is some vocal opposition in the community and some vocal opposition in the community and even in some circumstance where some in a even in some circumstance where some in a community consider it a distraction (and a community consider it a distraction (and a distracting commemoration would be illegal in all distracting commemoration would be illegal in all states)states)

Law enforcement does not want to appear to be Law enforcement does not want to appear to be insensitive to the feelings of the bereaved. insensitive to the feelings of the bereaved.

Qualitative Paradigm ShiftQualitative Paradigm Shift

More attention to research on and with More attention to research on and with emotionemotion Those who study qualitative methods need to consider Those who study qualitative methods need to consider

these issuesthese issues

Those who teach qualitative methods need to prepare Those who teach qualitative methods need to prepare students for the personal impactstudents for the personal impact

Those who conduct qualitative research projects need to Those who conduct qualitative research projects need to more fully consider their own emotional approachmore fully consider their own emotional approach

Thank you for Listening…Thank you for Listening… Any questions?Any questions?

Please feel free to write to me Please feel free to write to me about Roadside Memorials @about Roadside Memorials @

Art JipsonArt JipsonCriminal Justice Studies programCriminal Justice Studies programUniversity of DaytonUniversity of Dayton300 College Park300 College ParkDayton, Ohio 45469Dayton, Ohio 45469

on Twitter @ artjipsonon Twitter @ artjipson Or call 937-229-2153Or call 937-229-2153 or email me @ or email me @

((jipsonaj@udayton.edujipsonaj@udayton.edu))