Walking the tightrope of academic and practitioner expectations in field research

Abstract

Field research is an important site for engagement between academics and practitioners, and a stepping stone for collecting data, publishing outputs, and fostering impact. Despite a long-standing recognition that academic research should be relevant for practitioners, academic–practitioner relationships have been stymied through stereotypes around the binary expectations of both groups. Drawing on rich illustrations from a global research project, we show some of the challenges that can characterize field research. We illustrate how academic and practitioner tensions can become salient at different stages and impact on the trajectory of a research project. We argue for a dynamic rather than a binary perspective to manage academic–practitioner relationships. This highlights how tensions emerge between academics and practitioners, and offers lessons and reflections on how they can be overcome to achieve mutual positive outcomes.