The challenges of insider research & strategies of ethical research practice
Year: 2024
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: NOTE: Not yet published. Abstract Purpose – This paper aims to address the specific methodological research concerns which pertain to the challenges of insider research, conducting auto-ethnographic studies relating to the organisational behaviour of software test engineers (STEs) in Bank of Ireland (BOI), within the context of the highly regulated financial industry. The paper will also endeavour to delineate specific strategies of ethical research practice to conform to the increasingly stringent ethical approval policies issued by Research Ethics Committees. This area also encompasses epistemological/ontological issues in addition to the selection of data and method of analysis. Design/methodology/approach – A detailed review of extant literature was conducted in the area of research ethics, where I present my own understanding of the relevant ethical regulations at an institutional, national and international level, furnishing readers with subsequent strategies to fulfil these ethical requirements. These concerns are of particular relevance to my own area of study, the organisational behaviour of STEs, contributing to the digital transformation of banks in the Irish financial sector. My own interpretative study combines research methods such as principles of auto-ethnography, reflexivity and insider research, as I present myself as an object of research. I conducted 25 interviews within BOI, after which I performed rigorous reflexive thematic analysis (RTA), whereby my own reflexive journal relating to the data was coded to allow for thematic category development. NVivo was also used to analyse the data, enabling me to provide an audit trail in order to present my findings in a transparent manner, whilst also enhancing trust towards the research from the perspective of the reader, with regards to the inherent challenges of insider research. Findings – A diverse range of challenges exist regarding my use of insider research specifically, which includes factors such as addressing (i) my subjective position as a native researcher, (ii) my own relationship to the research project, and (iii) my professional relationship with the organisation I operate in, to ensure the research findings are both robust and valid. This serves to ensure that readers of the research are fully aware of my position when collecting/analysing the data, enabling them to make an informed judgement as to its accuracy in reflecting the subject of the work, as transparency in research processes/procedures must adequately address questions of validity. The paper then provides strategies to address such insider research concerns, in addition to recommendations for robust of ethical research practice. Originality/value – This paper will contribute to practice by highlighting the organisational behaviour of a specific team with growing prominence/importance within the organisation, and will be of use to any organisation seeking to undertake digital transformation. Contributions to theory subsequently emerged as the paper outlines the particular methodological concerns pertaining to the challenges of insider research, supplemented by suggestions for effective ethical research strategies. Keywords – Ethnography, Insider research, Auto-ethnography, Reflexivity, Ethics, Methodological research concerns Paper type – Research paper
Authors: Darren Byrne, Aisling Tuite, John Organ
Institution: South East Technological University
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W6949265285
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