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Chapter 3 Research Framework
important that they have clear guidelines of what to do should they observe unsafe
practices. The role conflict may arise as a result of the nurse researcher’s
commitment to the research simultaneous with their commitment to the patient.
Thus the researcher may establish a research ethical protocol specific to their study
prior to commencing the research (Houghton et al., 2010; Casey, 2006; Cerinus,
2001). This protocol may help the researcher to balance professional and researcher
identity and requires that the researcher make decisions about the level of their
participation in the research, their role in the research and the intensity of
involvement of participants (Kite, 1999; Powell et al. 1999). A research ethical
protocol may take the form of a written guideline, a written acknowledgment of their
professional knowledge, or a discussion of their thoughts and knowledge base
through a reflective journal.
Parahoo (2006) also recognised that nurse researchers act in a range of roles when
undertaking research. However, Brook (1991) and Powell (1999) state that the
researcher’s level of involvement in case study research can serve a case study well
and explained that the researcher’s experiential knowledge is necessary in order to
understand the complexities and peculiarities of the research phenomenon. This
experiential knowledge also helps with site selection and can help in reducing
research access issues (Grigg et al., 2004).
When adopting multiple roles such as data collector and data analyser, Brook (1991)
advised of the need to reconcile insider and outsider perspectives. The researcher
must adhere to the principle of reciprocity and must deal with potential subjectivity
appropriately in order not to compromise interpretations. Brook (1991) suggested
that reflection helps to reduce subjectivity. Ladkin (2007) supported this and stated
that the active involvement of the researcher in the research process should not be
considered a threat to validity, but rather as a dimension which can produce more
insight. Reflection can enable the researcher to rigorously examine and question their
position (Ladkin, 2007).
Therefore maintaining a reflective journal and being reflexive has been
recommended as a useful tool for balancing the multiple roles of a case study