ABSTRACT
In recent years there has been increasing interest in and controversy around politically motivated research-research which questions the meaning of ‘objectivity’ and ‘elimination of bias’, but which has an explicit concern with ending inequality and with taking the side of oppressed and marginalised groups. Cameron et al. (1992) characterise research as ‘ethical research’— research on —‘advocacy research’—research on and for-and ‘empowering research’— research on, for and with. The additional ‘with’ implies the use of interactive or dialogic methods, as opposed to the distancing and objectifying strategies positivists are constrained to use. This volume has brought together a range of approaches in order to examine the issues raised and to reflect on their potential to ‘empower’.
