Researching your own institution: Higher Education To cite this reference: Trowler, P. (2011) Researching your own institution, British Educational Research Association on-line resource. Available on-line at [INSERT WEB PAGE ADDRESS HERE] Last accessed _[insert date here] _ Paul Trowler, Lancaster University April 2011 Contents Summary Endogenous research: being an ‘insider’ researcher Researching HEIs as organisations Ethics in research: the anonymity problem ‘Value’ and robustness in endogenous research Questions for those embarking on endogenous research References Further resources Summary This resource is aimed at those who are considering researching the higher education institution (HEI) in which they are employed or enrolled. It highlights and offers guidance on the issues which are specific to researching HEIs (as a particular type of organization) as an ‘insider’. This kind of ‘insider research’ is sometimes referred to as ‘endogenous research’. The resource highlights some of the key issues raised in conducting research into one’s own HEI and the following are discussed: the characteristics of this kind of research and its growth; its strengths and weaknesses; conceptualising the nature of HEIs; ethical issues; and issues about value and robustness. The resource concludes by offering a series of questions for reflection. Endogenous Research: being an ‘insider’ researcher Doing endogenous research (Maruyama, 1991) in the HEI where you are employed or studying could be described as ‘insider’ research. However, ‘insiderness’ is not a fixed value: you may be researching aspects of the institution previously unknown to you, collecting data from strangers, and what counts as ‘inside’ also depends on your own identity positioning. Therefore, many commentators suggest that it is best to conceptualise a continuum between insider and outsider research rather than viewing them as binary opposites (for example Carter, 2004; Labree, 2002).