Dilemmas as researchers: An honest account

Abstract

The issue of an emotional component in the production of knowledge (Sturdy, 2003) is discussed in our first-hand account of the dilemma we faced in a public sector management development programme. Participants here were unaware that they were used as sources of data for personal research on organisation learning. Three critical questions are posed regarding the need for research/respondent transparency. Recommendations are made regarding the adoption of an Informed Consent Form (Leedy and Ormrod, 2001) as a formal part of the research methodology. It is suggested that this could greatly assist managers, researchers and facilitators of management education in dealing with the competing demands of their dual roles and to come to terms with their discomfort and emotion in research.

keywords Reflexivity, Emotion, Emotional Labour, Informed Consent, Researcher Identity, Development Management