Ikhlaq Jacob
@ikhlaqjacob.bsky.social
All views are my own.
Please reference my work if you use it.
Please reference my work if you use it.
“One reason for the poverty of ethnographic research in this area might simply be the difficulties of access”.
November 8, 2025 at 1:44 AM
“One reason for the poverty of ethnographic research in this area might simply be the difficulties of access”.
All the visits I made to towns and cities over decades, people never asked whether I authored a paper or even a book (and rightly so).
They were interested in me as a individual, this was the start of the trust and genuine rapport building.
They were interested in me as a individual, this was the start of the trust and genuine rapport building.
November 7, 2025 at 10:26 AM
All the visits I made to towns and cities over decades, people never asked whether I authored a paper or even a book (and rightly so).
They were interested in me as a individual, this was the start of the trust and genuine rapport building.
They were interested in me as a individual, this was the start of the trust and genuine rapport building.
To be able to relate to people ‘straight off the bat’ with diverse groups and communities, to be able to fit in as ‘one of them’ is key as a researcher.
It’s not only engagement with individuals but a connection.
It’s not only engagement with individuals but a connection.
November 5, 2025 at 11:39 PM
To be able to relate to people ‘straight off the bat’ with diverse groups and communities, to be able to fit in as ‘one of them’ is key as a researcher.
It’s not only engagement with individuals but a connection.
It’s not only engagement with individuals but a connection.
Pakistani community has been explored over decades.
Visiting diverse groups and centres, places of worship, corner shops, take-aways, markets, barbers, bazaars, melas and festivals.
Visiting Halifax, Huddersfield, Leeds, Keighley, Birmingham, Manchester, London and others.
Visiting diverse groups and centres, places of worship, corner shops, take-aways, markets, barbers, bazaars, melas and festivals.
Visiting Halifax, Huddersfield, Leeds, Keighley, Birmingham, Manchester, London and others.
November 2, 2025 at 12:33 AM
Pakistani community has been explored over decades.
Visiting diverse groups and centres, places of worship, corner shops, take-aways, markets, barbers, bazaars, melas and festivals.
Visiting Halifax, Huddersfield, Leeds, Keighley, Birmingham, Manchester, London and others.
Visiting diverse groups and centres, places of worship, corner shops, take-aways, markets, barbers, bazaars, melas and festivals.
Visiting Halifax, Huddersfield, Leeds, Keighley, Birmingham, Manchester, London and others.
I spoke to over 800 local people, groups and diverse communities: the ‘hard to reach’ for the INCLUDE Study in Bradford and Leeds during the summers of 2024/25. Thank you everyone.
@auasresearch.bsky.social
@auasresearch.bsky.social
October 28, 2025 at 11:00 PM
I spoke to over 800 local people, groups and diverse communities: the ‘hard to reach’ for the INCLUDE Study in Bradford and Leeds during the summers of 2024/25. Thank you everyone.
@auasresearch.bsky.social
@auasresearch.bsky.social
THANK YOU to the people of Chapeltown and Harehills whom I met at cafés, chai’s, supermarkets, take-outs, playing fields, bus stops, barbers, desert shops, Bilal Centre, LGM, places of worship, cultural spaces and on the streets those who completed the questionnaire.
@auasresearch.bsky.social
@auasresearch.bsky.social
October 28, 2025 at 9:19 PM
THANK YOU to the people of Chapeltown and Harehills whom I met at cafés, chai’s, supermarkets, take-outs, playing fields, bus stops, barbers, desert shops, Bilal Centre, LGM, places of worship, cultural spaces and on the streets those who completed the questionnaire.
@auasresearch.bsky.social
@auasresearch.bsky.social
Thank you to the Khidmet Centre, and to the many attendees that I spoke to over the summer also a HUGE THANKS to the Ladies Group. Reaching out to the ‘hard to reach’.
October 27, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Thank you to the Khidmet Centre, and to the many attendees that I spoke to over the summer also a HUGE THANKS to the Ladies Group. Reaching out to the ‘hard to reach’.
Huge thanks to Michelle and Walter from the Leeds Black Elders Association for allowing me access to the lovely ladies and gentleman across your sites.
Also to the Golden Girls at the Reginald Centre!
Also to the Golden Girls at the Reginald Centre!
October 27, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Huge thanks to Michelle and Walter from the Leeds Black Elders Association for allowing me access to the lovely ladies and gentleman across your sites.
Also to the Golden Girls at the Reginald Centre!
Also to the Golden Girls at the Reginald Centre!
Thank you to the Bangladeshi Centre!
October 27, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Thank you to the Bangladeshi Centre!
Thank you to Janet and your colleagues for allowing me to talk to your many attendees over the summer for the INCLUDE Study.
October 27, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Thank you to Janet and your colleagues for allowing me to talk to your many attendees over the summer for the INCLUDE Study.
Thank you to Mr Raj and Mr Singh for allowing me access to your attendees over the summer (the food was lovely and you instantly recognised my profile picture of Casablanca!).
October 27, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Thank you to Mr Raj and Mr Singh for allowing me access to your attendees over the summer (the food was lovely and you instantly recognised my profile picture of Casablanca!).
Thank you to Sharon from the Reginald Centre for giving me an invaluable insight into the rich culture of the local community in Chapeltown and Harehills.
October 27, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Thank you to Sharon from the Reginald Centre for giving me an invaluable insight into the rich culture of the local community in Chapeltown and Harehills.
Gatekeepers are an invaluable source of help I have engaged with them in Bradford, Birmingham, Keighley, Leeds, Leicester, London, Manchester, Sheffield, Slough and elsewhere for decades.
And the very many diverse groups and communities. Engagement is longitudinal.
Thank you.
And the very many diverse groups and communities. Engagement is longitudinal.
Thank you.
October 27, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Gatekeepers are an invaluable source of help I have engaged with them in Bradford, Birmingham, Keighley, Leeds, Leicester, London, Manchester, Sheffield, Slough and elsewhere for decades.
And the very many diverse groups and communities. Engagement is longitudinal.
Thank you.
And the very many diverse groups and communities. Engagement is longitudinal.
Thank you.
There are many groups and communities that should be represented in research: from the majority and the minority; the ‘minority within minority’; the marginalised; the excluded and the ‘hard to reach’.
This can avoid skewing the data and sampling bias.
This can avoid skewing the data and sampling bias.
October 24, 2025 at 10:41 PM
There are many groups and communities that should be represented in research: from the majority and the minority; the ‘minority within minority’; the marginalised; the excluded and the ‘hard to reach’.
This can avoid skewing the data and sampling bias.
This can avoid skewing the data and sampling bias.
From my decades (not just 3 years) of experience of health and social research with the British South Asian and Black/Caribbean communities.
Shared decision making has always been an ethical dilemma in research yet overlooked.
(Ikhlaq Jacob)
Shared decision making has always been an ethical dilemma in research yet overlooked.
(Ikhlaq Jacob)
October 19, 2025 at 11:15 PM
From my decades (not just 3 years) of experience of health and social research with the British South Asian and Black/Caribbean communities.
Shared decision making has always been an ethical dilemma in research yet overlooked.
(Ikhlaq Jacob)
Shared decision making has always been an ethical dilemma in research yet overlooked.
(Ikhlaq Jacob)
More of the Same?
Research reflects the findings of the people who take part: So the question is who is taking part? From the typical demographics and the ‘easy to reach’.
Whereas, I always looked for the very hard to reach (Ikhlaq Jacob).
Research reflects the findings of the people who take part: So the question is who is taking part? From the typical demographics and the ‘easy to reach’.
Whereas, I always looked for the very hard to reach (Ikhlaq Jacob).
October 17, 2025 at 11:35 PM
More of the Same?
Research reflects the findings of the people who take part: So the question is who is taking part? From the typical demographics and the ‘easy to reach’.
Whereas, I always looked for the very hard to reach (Ikhlaq Jacob).
Research reflects the findings of the people who take part: So the question is who is taking part? From the typical demographics and the ‘easy to reach’.
Whereas, I always looked for the very hard to reach (Ikhlaq Jacob).
Ethnography isn’t just data it’s testimony:
My work was capturing a gritty yet deeply connected social tapestry: identity, kinship and tensions of community life among Pakistanis in Bradford.
My work was capturing a gritty yet deeply connected social tapestry: identity, kinship and tensions of community life among Pakistanis in Bradford.
October 9, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Ethnography isn’t just data it’s testimony:
My work was capturing a gritty yet deeply connected social tapestry: identity, kinship and tensions of community life among Pakistanis in Bradford.
My work was capturing a gritty yet deeply connected social tapestry: identity, kinship and tensions of community life among Pakistanis in Bradford.
I was looking for more than data I was looking for the testimony of the youth at a time of enormous change and tension taking place within the Pakistani community in Bradford.
I did not treat them as data points but as narrators of their own reality.
Ethnography by Ikhlaq Jacob
I did not treat them as data points but as narrators of their own reality.
Ethnography by Ikhlaq Jacob
October 8, 2025 at 10:27 PM
I was looking for more than data I was looking for the testimony of the youth at a time of enormous change and tension taking place within the Pakistani community in Bradford.
I did not treat them as data points but as narrators of their own reality.
Ethnography by Ikhlaq Jacob
I did not treat them as data points but as narrators of their own reality.
Ethnography by Ikhlaq Jacob
The power dynamics within British South Asian households often complicate Informed Consent mediated by the ‘family’ hierarchy over individual autonomy reflecting nuanced collectivist values.
Western frameworks can struggle to accommodate these nuances.
Western frameworks can struggle to accommodate these nuances.
October 7, 2025 at 7:51 PM
The power dynamics within British South Asian households often complicate Informed Consent mediated by the ‘family’ hierarchy over individual autonomy reflecting nuanced collectivist values.
Western frameworks can struggle to accommodate these nuances.
Western frameworks can struggle to accommodate these nuances.
A walk into the fabric of the community in Bradford:
Walking past the hustle and bustle of the busy Market, men at the barbers are discussing last night’s football, the older women are talking about the ‘boats’, it’s lively, gritty and deeply connected.
Walking past the hustle and bustle of the busy Market, men at the barbers are discussing last night’s football, the older women are talking about the ‘boats’, it’s lively, gritty and deeply connected.
October 7, 2025 at 10:28 AM
A walk into the fabric of the community in Bradford:
Walking past the hustle and bustle of the busy Market, men at the barbers are discussing last night’s football, the older women are talking about the ‘boats’, it’s lively, gritty and deeply connected.
Walking past the hustle and bustle of the busy Market, men at the barbers are discussing last night’s football, the older women are talking about the ‘boats’, it’s lively, gritty and deeply connected.
Reaching out and making contact with the local community before the start of a new research study can help to generate interest in the study.
It’s also about connecting research with the community helping to foster trust and collaboration. (Ikhlaq Jacob)
It’s also about connecting research with the community helping to foster trust and collaboration. (Ikhlaq Jacob)
October 4, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Reaching out and making contact with the local community before the start of a new research study can help to generate interest in the study.
It’s also about connecting research with the community helping to foster trust and collaboration. (Ikhlaq Jacob)
It’s also about connecting research with the community helping to foster trust and collaboration. (Ikhlaq Jacob)
For many British South Asians health terms can be fluid where language and words are used interchangeably.
There are many examples: ‘old’ age, weakness, obesity, frailty, fatigue or disability are context and culturally depended when used in health-related terminology.
There are many examples: ‘old’ age, weakness, obesity, frailty, fatigue or disability are context and culturally depended when used in health-related terminology.
October 3, 2025 at 11:45 PM
For many British South Asians health terms can be fluid where language and words are used interchangeably.
There are many examples: ‘old’ age, weakness, obesity, frailty, fatigue or disability are context and culturally depended when used in health-related terminology.
There are many examples: ‘old’ age, weakness, obesity, frailty, fatigue or disability are context and culturally depended when used in health-related terminology.
Contextual data can often unlock deeper insights by capturing nuances that formal methods may miss. It’s like adding real-world data to a flat dataset.
This can be a untapped reservoir of data that can help fill important gaps in research and understanding social dynamics.
This can be a untapped reservoir of data that can help fill important gaps in research and understanding social dynamics.
October 3, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Contextual data can often unlock deeper insights by capturing nuances that formal methods may miss. It’s like adding real-world data to a flat dataset.
This can be a untapped reservoir of data that can help fill important gaps in research and understanding social dynamics.
This can be a untapped reservoir of data that can help fill important gaps in research and understanding social dynamics.
For me ethnography revealed invaluable insights:
In Bradford 7: St. Margaret’s Road was different to St. Margaret’s Place, Arncliffe Terrace was different to Back Arncliffe Terrace and Rugby Place was different to Back Rugby Place.
But what made them so different?
In Bradford 7: St. Margaret’s Road was different to St. Margaret’s Place, Arncliffe Terrace was different to Back Arncliffe Terrace and Rugby Place was different to Back Rugby Place.
But what made them so different?
October 2, 2025 at 10:40 PM
For me ethnography revealed invaluable insights:
In Bradford 7: St. Margaret’s Road was different to St. Margaret’s Place, Arncliffe Terrace was different to Back Arncliffe Terrace and Rugby Place was different to Back Rugby Place.
But what made them so different?
In Bradford 7: St. Margaret’s Road was different to St. Margaret’s Place, Arncliffe Terrace was different to Back Arncliffe Terrace and Rugby Place was different to Back Rugby Place.
But what made them so different?
Embedding research in everyday local activities such as sports or social events can help to build trust and reveal nuanced social insights without the formal structures that can help fill gaps in formal data.
October 2, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Embedding research in everyday local activities such as sports or social events can help to build trust and reveal nuanced social insights without the formal structures that can help fill gaps in formal data.