“Dialogue – possible between leader and follower?” - Ashridge

phenomena and the interaction between myself and others involved in the
research.
Dialogue is typically characterised by mutuality, encountering ‘otherness’ and
presence. I wish to choose a method of research congruent with these
characteristics.
Additionally one ambition I have for this research is that it stimulates action;
mine and others’. In other words rather than ‘simply’ making a contribution to
theory, I would hope my work prompts positive difference in both my own way
of engaging with others and in others’.
Given the nature of the research and my values described above I suggested
that my chosen method should be:
• Phenomenological
• Participatory
• Mutual, inclusive and confirming of others
• Reflexive
• Leading to action
Co-operative inquiry refers to “interpersonal research….[where]….research
subjects willingly participate in designing the study, supporting the analysis, and
framing how the research can positively impact these subject’s social (and
personal) conditions. [It] engages the skills of the research subjects as well as
the researcher, since the locus of inquiry is on the nexus of relationships
between the researcher and subject / phenomenon as well as the interaction
between the two” (Bradbury & Lichtenstein 2000:555). It involves four phases
(see Reason, 1999); phase one agrees the issues to be explored, phase two sees
the group apply their agreed actions in their everyday lives, phase three sees
the researchers become fully immersed in their experience and finally phase four
sees them consider the original research questions in the light of their
experience and possibly change their questions before restarting the cycle again.
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