Maternal exposure to violence and early child behavioural development in Tirana, Albania: Methods, challenges, and fieldwork reflections.

This article details the methodology of a PhD study in Criminology conducted at the University of Cambridge (2019–2023) that investigated the pathways between maternal exposure to violence and the behavioural development of two-to-three-year-old children enrolled in public nurseries in Tirana, Albania. The study employed a stratified random sampling strategy across eight nurseries representing diverse socio-economic clusters, collecting data from 328 mothers and 59 nursery teachers using validated, translated questionnaires administered primarily via face-to-face interviews, with some self-completed and phone-based surveys. Significant differences were observed in reported sensitive information depending on the mode of data collection, with face-to-face and online interviews yielding higher disclosure of adverse experiences than self-completed questionnaires. The article also discusses ethical considerations, fieldwork challenges amid COVID-19, and qualitative reflections on cultural attitudes toward intimate partner violence and child abuse, concluding with recommendations for future research design, data collection consistency, and the strengthening of child protection and mental health services in Albania.