This chapter is concerned with a relatively under-explored aspect of 'engaged research' -the nature of friendship relations between researchers and practitioners, and the ethical dilemmas that arise in such relationships. Attention has been paid to the relational aspects of research in the methodology literature, but this chapter focuses more closely on friendship in particular. The chapter is framed around two guiding concerns: how do friendships, formed in and around research, change over time; and in view of friendship conceived in this dynamic fashion, what ethical questions and dilemmas arise for the 'friends'?The chapter is structured as follows. Since the development of friendship might be expected to be more prominent in forms of research that presuppose a close engagement between researcher and research participant than those which are based on distance and 'objective' separation between researcher and subject, we start by briefly exploring the nature of 'engaged' forms of research. Second, we explore the friendship literature as it relates to the identities people construct for themselves and others in research relationships. Third, a phased model of research engagement is presented, highlighting the way the relationship between researchers and research participants develops over time. Finally, we present two 'tales from the field', of contrasting examples of friendship in research relationships, and we highlight some of the ethical questions that arise in such situations.
Engaged Research'Engaged research' is a somewhat ambivalent term which carries several meanings. In essence, it is research which is close to practitioner concerns and aims. It incorporates ideas and practices from traditions such as Participant