You mean Practice is a research method!

Conclusion

 

No research process should be undertaken without direction and support. Part of the Ph.D. research process is the training that is given to the students at most good Ph.D. programs. It has been understood that to achieve well at PHD level the student should be trained and supported in research methods. The centre I was working through accepted that I could use practice but perhaps there is an underestimation of the need for practice to have pedagogical direction as with other research methods. Throughout my early research I found that practice based/practice lead research methods, were described by writers on the subject who were desperate to justify using practice but because of this became very theoretical. Nelson’s book and its clear methodological approach suggest that others see a need for practice to have an explained structure and pedagogical basis. My initial practice-based research methods were a mess. Searching for a methodological guide I lost my way and almost lost my whole research. My practice became lost as the need for a theoretical basis from my methodology became paramount. Therefore I was not doing any practice and had lost the know-how, the know-what, and the know-that which Nelson see’s as important within practice.

 

This is a very personal response to the research process that I went through. Not everyone at my centre would necessarily respond in the way I did. However, I am happy to say that; Yes, Practice is a research method.