Behind the Looking Glass: Practitioner research - who speaks the problem?

Abstract

Practitioner research has its origins in methodological discussions in institutions of higher education, where case study has been described as one way of holding up a looking glass in order to reflect practice. But what happens when the practitioners themselves take control of the research process and enter the space behind the looking glass? Who owns the problem then becomes a crucial issue which raises ethical questions concerning the relationship of the practitioner to his or her colleagues and others affected by the research. The research process itself becomes not so much about systematic inquiry made public, but rather self-education made public. This article considers the methodological implications of one practitioner's “voyage of self-discovery”. © 1993, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved.