Doing Work Based Research
Approaches to Enquiry for Insider-Researchers
- Carol Costley - University of Middlesex
- Geoffrey C Elliott - University of Worcester, UK
- Paul Gibbs - University of Middlesex
With the growth of practitioner research, this book leads the way by addressing key issues faced by 'insider researchers' – those doing research projects in the organizations and communities in which they themselves work, or where they are already familiar with the setting.
The authors explore the implications of these research contexts, and discuss approaches and methodologies that researchers in these contexts might adopt, with a particular focus on ethics - one of the key concerns for students undertaking a research project of this type.
This book is for anyone undertaking a research project based on work practice, including postgraduate, undergraduate and doctoral students. Students on work-based programs or modules including education, healthcare and business courses, whose research projects are often undertaken in workplace settings, will find it particularly useful.
'Synthesized in a highly accessible format, the readers are offered clear, practical information worth its weight in gold to anyone seeking clarity about the precise nature of the tasks they have ahead…I cannot recommend the book highly enough and would definitely prescribe its use as an antidote to the insomnia that may affect those expert practitioners but naïve academics embarking upon such a path' - Management Learning
'The collective impact of [this] book in terms of the knowledge, skills and understanding that it can provide the insider-researcher cannot be underestimated...I would recommend this book to any learner, practitioner or manager about to embark on research in their own organisation. It is both an authoratative and highly readable guide to practice and underpinning theory of work-based learning research. I have no doubt its reach and impact will be wide ranging'
Journal of Higher Education, Skills and Work Based Learning
'This book provides an invaluable resource for practitioners engaged in real world research in, for and through the workplace. Practitioners bring to work-based research a wealth of practice based expertise and insight. Yet those new to researching their field of practice also have to attune their mind-sets to the discipline and demands of social scientific research. Costley Elliot and Gibbs' text achieves an intelligent balance in acknowledging their readers' expertise and experience in managing the realities of work while confronting them with the challenges and options that the research journey will present. From design to dissemination, from ethics to evaluation, the authors navigate the rich terrain of research methodology and work-based inquiry, alerting the reader to the array of perspectives and choices as well as pitfalls for the unwary. With examples that stimulate and tasks that consolidate, the text can be used from introductory to doctoral levels. A welcome and timely addition to the 'research methods' literature in a burgeoning field' - Professor Karen Evans, Institute of Education, University of London
'This is an important contribution to the ever-growing literature on the subject of insider research. Its practical focus provides readers with a substantive guide to considering and enacting research in their own organisations' - David Coghlan, Trinity College Dublin, author of Doing Action Research in Your Own Organization.
Work-based Learning is key in this Foundation degree, and this book supports this learning journey in a clear and engaging way.
This is an accessible and thought provoking text, which encourages students to consider the many aspects of work based research. This is helped with sets of discussion questions at the ends of chapters and sections within chapters which clearly illustrate and define key areas.
I think the attention to the particular ethical issues of doing research in your own workplace is a great asset of this book.
As this is a very broad approach to work-based research, this makes for a good introduction that will need to be complemented with further reading, as and if needed by the students.
This is a fantastic for our trainee practitioners. It was stolen by a colleague who refuses to return it until he has obtained his own copy!
A well written back that covers main areas for students
This book is more suitable for part-time research students. I'll recommend for my research students.
This clearly written text provides readers with a useful range of topics to consider. The book progresses through a range of essential topics, providing useful and thought provoking information for the practitioner engaged or about to embark on insider research.
This is a great book. It provides essential information in short easy to access and clearly written sections. It is not overly heavy on the theoretical underpinning. However, it is ideal as a research companion for students wanting a quick reminder or refresher on what specific research approaches, perspectives methodologies etc., mean and are appropriate for.
A useful step-by-step guide. particularly for students undertaking a specific module that has a practice-based research element. As well as guidance on planning approaches to research, selecting methods adopting methodologies, this book also talks about practical issues such as gaining access. I thought the section on evaluation was particularly useful; it contained clear guidance on the importance of thinking about success.
