Activity two

Potential advantages for workers as researchers
Insider knowledge of
• Problem/question to be researched
• Sources of information
• The organisation
• Key people

Can improve understanding / working practice


Potential disadvantages for workers as researchers
• Too close to the problem
• Influenced by own expectations/values
• Influenced by others
• Duality of roles


After looking at the above advantages and disadvantages, I have been considering my worker-researcher position very carefully.

In my opinion, I see my role as an advantage, in particular with the topic choice I have in mind. Being a worker researcher means I am closer to the subject I am trying to research and would make the ethnographic style of research easier for me, if that was the research approach I were to pick. Judith Bell (1999) states ‘participant observation takes time…The research has to be accepted by the individuals or groups being studied’. The fact that I have been working with the group’s I would be studying, for some time, makes it easier for me as I am already accepted by them, and I believe this would speed up the ethnographic research process for me.
I will also have wider access to the relevant sources needed to undertake my research project. As I am thinking of researching strategies to help young boys integrate into dance, I believe knowing a lot of the children personally will help me. If I decide to use narrative inquiry, it will help me a great deal as I have already built up a rapport and trust with them, making it easier for the child to open up to me, if need be. I will already know about my subject area as it is something I work in daily and am passionate about so this will fill me with more confidence to fulfil my role as worker-researcher. Finally I will be able to speak with key people involved in my research area directly, without having to spend time finding them or corresponding through email or phone.

Although I am confident with the advantages, I do also have to recognise potential disadvantages of being a worker researcher and consider the points displayed at the top of the page. I have also found another disadvantage which is not mentioned in the list above which is that if I were to choose to carry out a survey or some qualities research, I would have to think very carefully about my sample. If I was to present the survey to my pupils, for example, this would not be a sound representative of a good cross-section of people and may leave my results inaccurate of the population as a whole. This is because they would all be pupils of mine and so may have formed similar views on certain issues because of something I have done or not done. This is something I am going to have to be careful of throughout my research project, and also ties into the way in which I carry my research out; whilst I have the benefit of being able to observe those I teach, it may also be worth looking at children in different parts of the country altogether.

After reflecting on what I have written, I believe I will be able to carry out my worker-researcher role effectively but am well aware that I may come across some disadvantages, which I will need to tackle and overcome in order to carry out an effective and worthwhile project.

is anyone struggling with activity two..I am. I am not sure what it is we are being asked to do...could anyone help with this at all?

Possible topic "A study into different stratagies for intergrating boys of pre secondary school age into dance with a particular emphasis on hard to reach groups such as ethnic minoroties and white working class boys"

could i have your thoughts on this topic area please people!!