Doing Work Based Research: Approaches to Enquiry for Insider-Researchers

About the Book

With the growth of work based learning and practitioner research this book leads the way by addressing key issues faced by ′insider-researchers′ - learners, practitioners and managers 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 work based researchers might adopt, with a particular focus on ethics - one of the key concerns for those undertaking a research project of this type.

This book is an authoritative and readable guide to the theory and practice of work based research. It is for anyone undertaking a research project based on work practice, including learners on postgraduate, undergraduate and doctoral programmes. Practitioners, managers and participants in work based courses or modules in education, healthcare and business management, will find it particularly useful.

 

Table of Contents:
Key Concepts for the Insider-Researcher Search and Review of Relevant Knowledge and Information Research Ethics and Insider-Researchers Privilege, Power and Politics in Work-Based Research Gaining Access for the Insider-Researcher: Issues, Practices, Audiences, Ethics and Gratitude Learning Contracts/Agreements and Intellectual Capital Developing a Methodology Collaborative Research A Reflection on Professional Practice Work-Based Research in Action The Development of a Research Proposal Preparing and Evaluating Project Outcomes and Then Assessing the Learning Achieved Recommendations and Presentations Arising from the Research

About the Author :
Dr Geoffrey Elliott is Professor of Post-Compulsory Education at the University of Worcester. He has worked in schools, further and adult education, and has previously held posts in the School of Independent Study at the University of East London, and the Open University where he taught on the Professional Doctorate programme in Education. His research interests are in Leadership, Ethics, and Widening Participation in Higher Education. Geoffrey is President of the Association for Research in Post-Compulsory Education, the sponsor of the international peer reviewed journal Research in Post-Compulsory Education which he has edited since its launch in 1996. He has written and co-authored a number of books, including (with Carol Costley and Paul Gibbs) the highly popular Doing Work Based Research: Approaches to enquiry for insider-researchers, also published by Sage. Geoffrey is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA), the complaints ombudsman for HE students studying in England and Wales.

Review :
′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. An excellent, easy to read and very practical text for students and health care practitioners who are contemplating undertaking research in their own work place environment.
Considering the effects of being the researcher from the "inside" is well constructed within the text and will enable researchers to be reflexive in facing the many challenges such research can bring." Exteremely relevant to students undertaking professional doctorate programmes, with a work - based focus to research design. A helpfull book for our Bachelor students. The chapters with suggestions for discussion are easy to use in a course. A really good text for part-time MBA students researching within their employing organizations. Covers some key issues in a lively and accessible way without being superficial. This book cogently sets out the need for work-based research and its importance to our knowledge-based economy and society. The authors of this text are well known in the field of work-based learning and have brought their combined experience and wisdom together in a text that will engage as well as inform the reader. I like how this book covers work-based research from undergraduate to doctoral level and the use of exemplars from the real world of work-based research will be helpful, informative and reassuring to any practitioner contemplating or doing research in their own workplace. This is a ‘must have’ books for any practitioner, academic or researcher who is doing or has an interest in work-based research .
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Dr Ruth Davies, Director of Work Based Doctorate in Professional Practice in Health and Social Care, Swansea University .
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This is a readable and accessable book that provides a thorough resource for those working towards professional masters The text provides a thorough introduction to issues, methods and processes around work based research. This is a highly relevant area for HE research and addreses particularly well the needs of postgraduates on professional masters and doctoral awards. It is readable and well presented. An excellent and accessible book, essential reading for all those interested in work based research. This is an interesting book and essential reading for doctorate students whose main concern is research in practice fields I am assigning this as required reading BEFORE students start on their programme. It serves as an excellent introduction to concepts and methods that will be used in many of their modules of study. Serious and well-written for practice-based researchers An excellent, easy to navigate and understand text. This text will be a great addition to the reading list for student researchers at a number of levels; it is substantive enough for those with previous experience whilst still being accessible to the first time researcher. I shall be adding this to my reading lists for novice researchers studying for a work based foundation degree. This book provided quite comprehensive detail on many aspects of research for the beginning researcher, explaining many of the key terms in accessible language. Easy to use relevant and topical This text provides a useful insight an guidence into the area of work based research by practitioners. It will be particularly useful for our Post Graduate students who are engaging in projects within thier work base as part of their post graduate training and development. Excellent book for WBR, easy to read and to find information. Good clear information relating to carrying out a research project including action research and how it is to be conducted. As previously expressed this publication clearly explains the process for research in a working environment to enable students to explore their chosen topics for dissertations (BA) and action research (Fd) on relevant programmes. The only text to date dealing with work-based projects at professional doctorate level. A pragmatic and realistic approach to undertaking research with a particularly useful exploration of the ethical issues. This text has already been installed in the library. It is very helpful for the work-based students we have and will be especially useful for our MSc in HRM for part-time students, who have to do undertake organisational research leading to a dissertation. A detailed and accessible text with a clear layout. The ′Discussion Questions′ at the end of each chapter provide helpful pointers for further study. Good text for Ma Management students given the need for more evidenced based research This is a substantial resource for both novice and experienced insider researchers. It goves good pointers and raises key challenges for those who wish to research the ground within which they stand. Excellent book, ideal for my module - an integrated work experience module.
Adopted now as essential reading on the module descriptor and will help students put their work context into an academic format. The book is especially useful for those students who want to present the case of the company they are currently working for. I also recommend the book for those who want to write their bachelor thesis about a topic which is related with the company they have been working for. An extremely useful guide for the busy part time student. This text provides our students with a really good guide to viewing the work that they do on an every day basis in academic research terms. Exactly what we required. A very well structured manual about a recent research methodology in use, work based research. Although there are some researchers that do not consider this type of research as valid scientifically, the number of field studies has been increasing in the last years. The manual presents some key topics to take into account when doing this type of research, such as ethics, privilege, power and politics. Important and relevant references are included. As the majority of education students conduct small scale research within their own teaching context, this text could become very sought after. It discusses most key they should consider - from the original concept of the project through to the final write up. The section on methods of disseminating information is a little too brief however, perhaps the publication would benefit from including elements such as preparing an academic poster which would probably be the most frequent method most work based researchers use to present their findings. The textbooks provide a really interesting perspective on work-based research.
We are adopting it for our new Final Project module Excellent breakdown to work-based ontology and epistemology. Some thought provoking concepts and methods. I found this book to be an very easy to read and practical text for students who are undertaking research within their organisation. It provides students with a guide as to how to determine the most appopriate ways to small scale research A really accessible book with thoughtful reflective questions to support work based students. Particularly useful for students doing work based learning modules in year 1 and year 2 of Foundation degree in early Years. Gives very practical advice for carrying out an enquiry in the work place. Easy to read with clear explanations. All degree students will fing it invaluable when completing research assignments/dissertations Feedback has been very positive from the group and the action research module has used this book successfully. Useful background reading for for practice based disciplines and for those who may need to carry out research in their own organisation. A welcome contribution to the work-based ′how -to′ genre. Provides a comprehensive introduction to academic research for insider researchers and will be a valued addition to the standard and traditional research textbooks which seldom address the growing numbers of people engaged with research relevant to their work. I am not sure about chapter 6 which is concerned with learning contracts. That organisational demands and academic demands need to be aligned within the research is a matter for discussion but I′m not sure that this chapter addresses this. Also I would have liked more discussion on size of project (level and number of credits) as this has a significant impact on the nature and design of the inquiry. Although not suitable for the module, it is a good guide for my teaching staff who are encouraged to conduct Action Research within their everyday practice This will be a really useful book for Year 2 work-based projects. Students find writing learning agreements quite challenging so Chapter 6 will be particularly useful. The examples give a clear overview of what is expected. Good lists of further research material. written in clear, easy to understand language. A very informative and usefull book. We are currently runnig a work based project dissertation module . The text offers an insight into WB P and the issues that the student needs to consider. It is also at the right level for masters students and offers at times sound foundational information that is often overlooked. This is a useful introductory text to work-based research This book is written in a very accessible style and brings together the literature on the insider perspective. This is combined with a very common sense approach to the key issues raised when conducting research with your peers and or within your professional sphere of practice. This is a really useful text for students navigating the complexities of being an insider researcher, including the challenges of working ethically, negotiating power relationships, and seeking to build collaborative practices. Highly recommended. This is an informative text. We have decided to recommend this text to students undertaking work based research. Fundamental for those undertaking research in their own organisations Some of our students engage in work based research and for them this book provides a clear account of the aspects of research pertinent to them. The book is excellently structured and easy to read. A really clear and concise text that highlight the key issues to consider for an insider researcher For students and practitioners undertaking research in their usual place of work, there is much to consider. Aspects such as researching colleagues have impications which may extend beyond the term of the project. This book explores these sometimes overlooked details. Very clear guide to carring out research in the workplace. Ideal introduction for those in education Useful for first time researchers undertaking undergraduate dissertations after work placements and distance learners undertaking research within their organisations. Written in clear plain English. Raises awareness of areas such as such as copyright and confidentiality, sharing data, research ethics. Structuring a review, developing a methodology and reflection on practice are areas students have difficulty with and this text offers practical advice. The links to further reading are also helpful. An excellent book which guides students new to work based research in a clear and supportive manner. An extremely useful ′pre-reader′ before the start of a programme. We will be requiring students to read selected chapters ahead of seminars and tutorials. An excellent companion for undergraduate students wishing to pursue aspects of work based research This is an excellent resource to underpin our final year degree students Action Research projects Many of our undergrads undertake research in their workplaces. This book validates this as a research option, and clarifies some important issues. The ethics chapter for ′insider′ researchers is particularly valuable in this regard. A very useful text for students who are basing their research in either their own business or the business in which they are employed. It deals particularly well with the ethical considerations that are so important with this type of research. Students have found this a useful book especially those who work in a training environment rather than FE college. Our Foundation in Workbased learning have also found it particulalrly useful for their research assignment The book provided the students with an overview of methodical and methdological questions and pitfalls when they are about to do research in a setting familiar to them for a number of reasons. For some students the book was inspiring and understandable for others several concepts had to be discussed with professors. I will use the book again at at doctoral introductory course in lifeong learning as essential reading in fall 2010 Very usefu l for ′insider′ researchers particularly for those doing a PhD this book allows for a full understanding to place of the recent phenomena of work based learning. students are able to place their learning in context of WBL theory a clearly written book that that allows work based learning to take place easily for students