The Nature of Research

What is it that people who do research actually do? Should all academics do research or should some confine themselves to teaching? For those embarking on an academic career in the current climate these questions are central to how they approach their work - and increasingly new academics are entering higher education without conventional research training, particularly in "new" universities and "new" disciplines. Drawing on empirical work by the author, this book explores ways in which academic researchers conceptualize their work and offers a framework for understanding research as it is practised.