Ravalier PhD Theis.pdf - Anglia Ruskin Research Online

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was to be appointed to work with the satellites of the organisation, a role performed previously by volunteer
employees in the main 'hub' location but not outside of this (Table 29, No. 3.2).
2) The Researcher in the Research Process
There is some discussion within various literature sources as to the impact that a researcher/practitioner's
stance within an applied research project can have on the outcome of studies. This discussion, described as the
differences between an 'insider' and 'outsider' researcher and the impact that these positions can have, is
especially pertinent in certain organisational change works. For example, Humphrey (2007) reflects upon her
experiences of working within multiple positions insider-outsider positions in an action research project. Similarly
Kidd (2009) found that the ambiguity of belonging to both the insider and outsider groups to be confusing, and yet
ultimately liberating.
Within research such as that presented in the current thesis, an insider would represent someone from within
the participating organisation who played an active and meaningful role in the research process. These people
would therefore be actively involved in the implementation and outcomes of a program. Alternatively an outsider
would represent an authority external to the PAO whose role is to design changes to be brought to senior
management for the improvement of particular organisational systems (e.g. Hurley et al., 2002), and as such is
someone who is outside of the goals of the organisation. It is clear that in the presented work the lead researcher
was an outsider to the PAO, and thus performed two distinct outsider roles. Firstly this individual was a visiting
practitioner within the PAO, charged with the task of designing interventions to improve employee wellbeing.