Oldal 59 [59]
RESEARCH ON CONSULTING — WITH, FOR OR AGAINST PRACTICE?
mentioned anonymity — both in general and especially in relation to their
clients. When it came to exclusion criteria, in addition to general statements
they mentioned that their clients must not be endangered, particularly by a
failure to maintain anonymity or due to unreliable anonymisation strategies.
Furthermore, some coaches feared interference in the coaching process and
results, and formulated criteria for the selection of coaching cases (especially
in regard to their clients’ consent) which would be suitable for research. In this
context they also specifically mentioned the difficulty in properly explaining
the research concept to the clients in question. The desired usage of the results
for coaches themselves appeared mostly on the side of the incentives: they
express a definite interest in and clear expectation of receiving feedback on the
results from the researchers after the study has concluded.
Working relationship between researchers and practitioners
About 20% of statements related to the expectations the coaches had about the
working relationship between researchers and practitioners during the research
process. These included statements about the researchers’ competence, the
transparency of the research proposal and organisational and technical
support. A transparent mediation of the research aims and methods was
most frequently mentioned — positively as a precondition as well as negatively,
when transparency is insufficient, as an exclusion criterion. The researchers’
competence (or lack thereof) was mentioned as well. The specific answers hin¬
ted at the expectation of working on an equal footing with (professionally)
experienced researches. Another precondition for participation by the coaches
was good overall organisation and expert technical support by the researchers
during the research process. Specific individual statements about exclusion
criteria referred to a lack of trust and the asymmetrical relationship structure
— for instance due to patronising attitudes on the part of the researcher or the
lack of opportunity for the coach to give process feedback.
The previous results of systematic questioning of coaches correspond
in part to the topics of this research/practice workshop. It is evident that
practitioners expect a great deal more from research than simple legitimising
research. They have a genuine, content-related interest, want to participate in
defining the “relevant” questions and expect these to be integrated into good
research designs. They also expect a summary of the feedback in return for
their participation.