Method in the Madness?
Research Stories You Won't Find in a Textbook
Chandos Publishing (Oxford) Ltd
Published on 1. April 2009
Book
Hardback
200 pages
978-1-84334-494-0 (ISBN)
Description
This book is presented as a companion to researchers investigating the complex world of work. Rather than a 'How to' text on performing research, this book presents a record of experiences. Research so often evolves in the field or the planning stages and a successful researcher need to be aware of serendipitous opportunities as they arise and how to solve problems as they occur. The book comprises an introduction written by the editors followed by thirteen chapters written by different contributors. The introduction draws together the disparate experiences that follow and discusses the ways in which the contributors, all of whom are respected researchers, dealt with and learned from the research experience.In the following chapters, the contributors describe and reflect on the research process, the challenges they met during their research and the lessons learned. The style varies, but includes narratives, anecdotes and descriptions of individuals' experiences as research was designed and carried out and the results generated.This book presents twelve chapters of research experiences where the researcher learnt more about performing research whilst 'in the field' than they did from prescriptive texts.
This book represents a fresh and accessible look at research and research methods. It deliberately avoids much of the apparatus of the scholarly tome or formal textbook, presenting material in a readable, enjoyable way without foregoing high standards of scholarship. The book brings to life research and research practices. It would include the practice and experience of research from the perspective of experienced researchers. Experienced researchers understand the complex nature of performing field work and the trials and tribulations that can influence any research project.
This book represents a fresh and accessible look at research and research methods. It deliberately avoids much of the apparatus of the scholarly tome or formal textbook, presenting material in a readable, enjoyable way without foregoing high standards of scholarship. The book brings to life research and research practices. It would include the practice and experience of research from the perspective of experienced researchers. Experienced researchers understand the complex nature of performing field work and the trials and tribulations that can influence any research project.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
OXford
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Elsevier Science & Technology
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-84334-494-0 (9781843344940)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Method in the Madness
Research Stories You Won't Read in Textbooks
E-Book
06/2009
Chandos Publishing (Oxford) Ltd
€68.95
Available for download
Persons
Keith Townsend. Research Fellow, Centre for Work, Employment and Wellbeing, and the Department of Employment Relations, Griffith University, Australia. John Burgess. Professor and Director, Graduate Business School, University of Newcastle, Australia. Research interests in labour market policy, contingent employment and gender and work.
Content
Introduction; Investigating work through the haze of discontent: smokers as data source; Gaining agreement does n mean gaining access; Studying elite men: challenges and complexities in researching masculinities; A sporting chance: workplace ethnographies, ethics and protocols and playing by the rules; Multiple methods, emerging truths: 'war stories', survey responses, shared confidences and evesdropping in an organisational case study; Mobile work, mobile research/er; Developing a rapport with respondents: strikes, henchmen and Gaelic football; 'A bee in my bonnet': Unfair dismissal and small business; Focussing on the kids: the challenges of focus groups with minors; The pilbara pub method: Making sense of mining; 'There are ways, and then there are ways': doing research in a second language setting; Coping with crap: researching the hidden world of cleaning; Sitting on a wall in Northumberland crying... the realities of semi-structured interviews.