A case study methodology for analysing the implementation of Research Performing Organisations (RPOs) institutional responses to Gender Based Violence (GBV)

Gender-based violence (GBV) is recognized as a pervasive global problem, and the context of higher education (HE) is not an exception. In this context, frequently GBV takes form on different types of sexual, sexist and LGTBQi-related harassment that has a negative effect on the quality of the work environment and working conditions and lowers the excellence of research, teaching and learning. The Horizon 2020 project UniSAFE aims at producing better knowledge on the prevalence, determinants, and consequences of GBV in universities and research organisations, including the effectiveness and quality of the institutional responses (measures) put in place for dealing with this complex phenomenon. For that specific UniSAFE objective, 18 case studies (CSs) have been identified among the institutional responses previously mapped in the 45+ RPOs participating in the UniSAFE community, with a focus on the implementation of the institutional responses, their processes, challenges, consequences, positive and potential perverse effects. The aim of these case studies is understanding how the institutional measures are implemented. This focus on implementation is inspired in the implementation studies literature, and the later focus in this analytical phase within Feminist Policy Studies. For designing the methodological approach, we put at the centre this complex phenomenon of putting into practice public policy, which is an inherently political, complex and dynamic process key to determining the effectiveness of any given policy (Engeli and Mazur, 2018). For that, we highlight the importance of actors, institutions and ideas. Implementation involves multiple, interacting actors, or networks of actors, which shows its political nature (once adopted, policies continue to be subject to negotiation, interpretation, contestation and coalition). The importance of institutions is based on the Feminist Institutionalism. Indeed, GBV & SH occur in institutionally gendered institutions shaped by formal and informal rules, which are shared in organizational contexts (Mackay, Kenny, & Chappell, 2010; Chappell & Waylen, 2013 ). The role of ideas, discourses and resistances is under analysed in implementation studies (Ciccia & Lombardo, 2019; Lombardo & Bustelo 2021. Due to the “normalisation of violence” (Bondestam & Lundqvist, 2020) and resistances, the structural gender inequality embedded in RPOs, and organisational complexity, institutional responses can unintentionally produce re-victimisation, failing to adequately prevent harassment or protect. For capturing how these factors affects the implementation of GBV& SH institutional responses, we have designed a CS methodology based mainly on qualitative inquiry and methods that permit the researcher to study the selected issues in depth and detail. The paper will substantiate the theoretical background which inspired the tailored designed methodology of the CS. It will also explain this full methodological design and process, including the identification and selection of the cases of institutional responses, and the methodological decisions and ethical implications of the field work, and in the analysis of both each individual CS and in the joint multiple CS research.