Can the Mothers of Invention Make Virtue out of Necessity? An optimistic deconstruction of research compromises in contract research and evaluation

Abstract

This article offers a retrospective deconstruction of research compromises undertaken during ‘quick and dirty’ contract evaluation. The deconstruction identifies constraining changes in the nature of research contexts, but develops a positive view of methodological developments which might be regarded as creating ‘transgressive validity’. Notions of ‘hybridity’ in research methodology, and of ‘negotiation’ in research procedures are considered.