ABSTRACT
This chapter focusses on the value of practitioner research. In particular it examines how previously existing relationships impact on the research process. It is argued that existing relationships facilitate opportunities for accessing in-depth data. However the emotional investment by both researchers and participants in these relationships can create challenges. This chapter will highlight the importance of balancing current and previous relationships and ethics through ongoing negotiations throughout the entire research process. It will discuss how necessary negotiations with participants resulted in changes thereby showing the reader the organic and changing nature of a research project. The research that is used to illustrate the points discussed investigated the manner in which Traveller women negotiate different spaces, in particular, the home-school interface. The value of the chapter lies in identifying and discussing issues relevant to practitioner research, in particular advantages in developing meaningful and ongoing relationships with research participants. An important message comes from the author’s discussion of her realisation that her experience as a practitioner and ways of working could usefully inform the way she conducted the research.
