ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the philosophy, design and methods used in study of British research scientists. The study was devised to examine the career management process for men and women scientists employed in four types of research setting: university research laboratories, research institutes, public research laboratories and private research and development laboratories. The primary research question was ‘how are the careers of men and women research scientists managed in practice in the different organisational settings?’ A further question concerned the viability of the concept of ‘career management’ in connection with this employment group. The chapter explains practice in the management of careers in scientific research in the context of the employing organisation, acknowledging the perspectives of men and women scientists at all levels. Where possible, men and women scientists were interviewed at each organisational level. Around twenty scientists were interviewed in each case study.
