It’s not long since I wrote My role as a researcher as part of my ongoing inquiry into the nature and value of research. I think – using Vickers terms – that my appreciative setting is now firmly set to spot additional potential developments to this inquiry. Either that or its like lots of buses coming along at once.
So I was really interested to see an online first announcement for an article by Khan et al (2013) – the first three lines of the abstract saying…
“What is the purpose of knowledge? Is it an end product only, or a means for action for change? Who is expected to take action – the researcher, research subjects, both, or some unknown others who may come across the knowledge produced? The larger question then is: is it health research, or research for health, equity and development?” (no page numbers)
The article gave me some new food for thought…