![[PDF]](/pb-assets/Icons/adobe-pdf-icon-1498649896243.png){kind=icon}
Abstract
The article engages with the opportunities and constraints raised by embedded research during times of rapid and extensive organisational change. Embedded research is an increasingly common approach for funding PhD studentships. The rapid and extensive reforms of the English public sector pose significant and underexplored challenges for embedded researchers and research. The author was embedded during his PhD and here he explores different metaphors – ‘critical friend’, ‘critical nephew’ and ‘critical orphan’ – to define the relationship between himself and the organisation in which he was embedded. The methodological and theoretical development of the research is then outlined in terms of the autonomy and access of the ‘critical orphan’ embedded research relationship. The article concludes that although ‘orphanship’ can be a positive development for the research, the lack of contribution to the sponsor organisation may prevent the further development of embedded research relationships in public sector organisations.
References
|
BERA (British Educational Research Association) (2011) Ethical Guidelines for Educational Research. London: British Educational Research Association. Google Scholar | |
|
Charters, WW, Jones, JE (1973) On the risk of appraising non-events in program evaluation. Educational Researcher 2(11): 5–7. Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | |
|
Cheek, J (2005) The practice and politics of funded qualitative research In: Denzin, N, Lincoln, Y (eds) The Sage Handbook of Qualitative Research (3rd edn). Thousand Oaks, CA; London; New Delhi: Sage, pp. 387–410. Google Scholar | |
|
DCSF (Department for Children, Schools and Families) (2007) The Children’s Plan: Building Brighter Futures. London: TSO. Google Scholar | |
|
DfES (Department for Education and Skills) (2003) Every Child Matters. London: DfES. Google Scholar | |
|
Easen, P, Atkins, M, Dyson, A (2004) Inter-professional collaboration and conceptualisations of practice. Children and Society 14: 355–367. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
Harris, S (2003) Inter-agency practice and professional collaboration: The case of drug education and prevention. Journal of Education Policy 18(3): 303–314. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI | |
|
McGinity, R, Salokangas, M (2012) What is embedded research? Paper presented at Embedded Research Conference, University of Manchester, June. Google Scholar | |
|
Moran, P, Jacobs, C, Bunn, A. (2007) Multi-agency working: Implications for an early-intervention social work team. Child and Family Social Work 12: 143–151. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI | |
|
Pollitt, C (2007) New Labour’s re-disorganization. Public Management Review 9(4): 529–543. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI | |
|
Stockborough Challenge (2007) Bringing together. Unpublished policy document. Google Scholar | |
|
Stockborough Challenge (2009) Developing the detail. Unpublished policy document. Google Scholar | |
|
Swaffield, S (2007) Light touch critical friendship. Improving Schools 10(3): 205–219. Google Scholar | SAGE Journals |
