The researcher is a researcher practitioner who currently practices in the field of study, an understanding of how this will affected the research was required. Critics of insider research such as Morse (1998), state that the roles of employee and researcher are incompatible as they place the researcher in an untenable position. However Brannick and Coghlan (2007) provide a comprehensive insight into the issue of the research practitioner. They highlight the benefit of the ability to bring a rich knowledge experience to the research problem. Understanding the impact of issues such as researcher bias, ensuring distance from and gaining primary access to data and dealing with the complexities of operating a dual role as employee and researcher and are primary considerations for this research.
The research strategy resulted in the researcher engaging with private sector companies, where the researcher is not employed. Access to the required level of data
and some sector of the private sector development community may be proven to be problematic (Havard, 2008). Creswell (2013) states that it is important for researchers to have wide access to information to produce effective case study research. This has proved to be the case for the researcher as access to all private sector organisations and financial organisations that the researcher anticipated, was not granted. Nonetheless, the researcher has gained access to a number of senior practicing professionals who are directors of private sector development companies. This has allowed for the collection of sufficient data from experts in order to complete the aim and objectives of the research.
The researcher is an advocate of insider research as it allows the ability to bring experiential knowledge to the problem which traditional research methodologies may not be able to achieve. Nonetheless the researcher must be aware of the issues and potential pitfalls of insider research. This has required that the researcher develop a robust research strategy that can mitigate or minimise the issues associated with insider research.
4.7.2 Reflexivity
It has been claimed that engaging in reflective practice allows the researcher to deliberately make time to stand back and engage in critical reflection of those actions. This allows the researcher to evaluate and review the relative successes or failures of those actions and modify our actions for future exercises or operations. Weinstein (1995, p49) states “reflecting, recalling, thinking about, pulling apart and making sense, trying to understand, is crucial to our learning. It makes us more aware of ourselves, of other, and of what is going on around us”.
Reflective practice has been described as important in order to develop the capacity to continuously to engage in critical dialogue about professional activity individually and with others. It is viewed as a reflective process in that it is iterative, constant and continuing (McGill and Brockbank, 2004). It allows the researcher to communicate the personal beliefs and ideas to the research audience. Reflective practice allows the researcher to explicitly state their position in the study (Creswell, 2014) meaning that the audience can establish if the nature of the researcher affects the outcome of the research.
Engagement in initial reflection confirms that the case study area parameter is defined as the North West of England region. This is the region that the researcher has been employed, since 2002 as a Development Manager at a private sector development and regeneration company. It is also the region of residence of the researcher. The researcher practitioner entered into private practice and gained accreditation from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) in 2004 in the specialist field of planning and development. The practitioner role currently involves practicing predominately both within the field of property development and urban regeneration. The practitioner role has involved the management of urban regeneration projects from inception to completion. This has involved site acquisition and disposal and appointing and appointment of design team members. The role has involved the reporting to a board of directors on all aspects of a development on issues such as progress, cost, value, finance and other pertinent issues.
The role of Development Manager has involved participation in urban heritage regeneration schemes that have progressed to completion and other schemes that have been stalled or abandoned. It is this dichotomy of the practitioner role that has generated the desire to complete the research. The research practitioner has also had a prolonged engagement in the field of urban heritage regeneration. This has created a sustained interest in the subject area and has provided the motivation to complete the research.
Engagement in the field has led to the desire to develop a greater understanding of the concept of successful regeneration, and to develop an understanding of the concept of value and subsequent effect on participation in urban heritage regeneration. It has led to the want to develop a greater understanding of the opportunities and constraints for private sector development organisations when participating in these regeneration projects.
4.7.3 Research Ethics
The completion of this research has been subject to and has been guided throughout by adherence to the university’s code of ethics committee. This provides an outline of the principles and procedure that the researcher must strictly adhere too when
critical to avoid any misconduct during the completion of the research. It also ensures that any situations are avoided that would jeopardise the health and safety of the researcher.
Prior to commencement of the data collection phases of the research, approval has been obtained from the University of Salford Research Ethics Committee to ensure compliance with ethical regulations committee codes of conduct. Informed consent has been obtained from all project participants (Yin, 2009). An explanatory note describing the true nature of the research aim and objectives was sent in advance of the commencement of data collection. Prospective research participants were provided with as much information as was needed to make an informed decision about whether they wish to participate in the project (Bryman and Bell, 2007).
Confidentiality was a key consideration for the research project in that if confidentiality is requested by project participants it was honoured. Care has been taken to ensure that individuals or organisations are not identified or identifiable unless prior permission has been granted (Bryman and Bell, 2007). Data not in the public domain relating to sensitive project information has not been included in the research.
All observations to collect data have been conducted overtly, rather than covertly, and data has been collected systematically via structured data collection research methods and obtained from multiple sources to ensure triangulation. A period of reflection following completion of each phase of data collection has been completed. in addition a detailed set of notes to ensure rigour and systemic recording of data collection was maintained (Baxter and Jack, 2008). All data relating to the research was stored in a secure password protected online data storage facility.
The issue of bias in mixed methods research could affect the validity of the research, where the researcher is influenced by the organisation that may funding or sponsor the research. The researcher may also be reluctant to share sensitive information from a sponsor organisation for fear of ethical issues. It is confirmed that the research is self- funded and free from any external political influence. In addition whilst the researcher has been granted a structured period of leave to complete the research, this project is free of any explicit direct influence from the employer. Any references contained in
the research that relates to the researchers employers, has been appropriately referenced or is freely available in the public domain.
4.7.4 Research Validity
To provide a high quality research design strategy issues of validity must be considered as a number of factors can affect the validity of a research and will subsequently affect the ability to defend the research. Table 2 below, outlines some of threats to research validity (Creswell, 2013; Robson and McCartan, 2016) and subsequent measures adopted by the researcher to increase the validity of the research study.
Table 2: Threats and Solutions to Research Validity.
Issues affecting Research Validity
Description of Issue Measures adopted by the researcher
Construct Validity
Identification of correct operational measure for the concepts being studied.
Use of multiple sources of evidence.
Reliability Demonstrate that the
operations of a study can be repeated with the same results.
Develop case study protocol.
Triangulation Poor quality of evidence. Information was obtained from multiple sources of evidence.
Adverse Initial Reaction
Respondents react negatively to researcher as research instrument.
Prolonged involvement in field by the researcher has generated acceptance in the field.
into the research. in reflexivity. Source. Authors own development.