View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by University of Birmingham Research Archive, E-papers Repository Third Sector Research Centre Working Paper 56 Seeing things differently? The promise of qualitative longitudinal research on the third sector Dr Rob Macmillan March 2011 Working Paper Working 56 March 2011 March Contents 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 3 2. A methodological interest: the development of longitudinal research.................................... 5 2.1. Longitudinal research on third sector organisations .............................................................. 6 3. A contextual baseline: ‘shaking up’ and ‘shaking out’? ........................................................... 8 4. ‘Real Times’: TSRC’s qualitative longitudinal study ................................................................ 11 4.1. Purpose and research questions ......................................................................................... 11 4.2. Research design and structure............................................................................................ 13 5. Theoretical imaginings ................................................................................................................ 16 5.1. Temporalities ....................................................................................................................... 16 5.2. A ‘field’ guide - towards a ‘relational’ account of the third sector ........................................ 20 5.3. Structure and agency – strategic action in context.............................................................. 25 6. Conclusions ................................................................................................................................. 29 1 Seeing things differently? The promise of qualitative longitudinal research on the third sector Abstract There has been a rapidly growing interest in longitudinal research methods and dynamic analysis in recent decades. A longitudinal research gaze offers the promise of seeing things differently, and of understanding the dynamic processes involved in social change, of what happens next and why. This paper explores the potential of qualitative longitudinal research for developing understanding of the dynamics of the third sector. The Third Sector Research Centre has embarked upon a qualitative longitudinal study of third sector activities called ‘Real Times’. The paper sets out the thinking behind the study. As well as providing a basic description of the rationale, design and structure of ‘Real Times’, the paper discusses the methodological interest in qualitative longitudinal research in the third sector, the substantive contextual issues the third sector is experiencing as the study takes place, and some of the theoretical thinking involved in the study. In particular it discusses three theoretical ‘imaginings’ which inform the research: the different temporalities involved in the third sector; a ‘relational’ account of the third sector as a contested field; and lastly the idea of strategic action in context. Keywords Qualitative longitudinal research; third sector; time; relational account; strategic action Acknowledgements This working paper has been written during many months of discussion through 2009 and 2010 with colleagues within and beyond the Third Sector Research Centre over the design of the ‘Real Times’ qualitative longitudinal study. In particular it comes out of creative discussions within the ‘Real Times’ research team itself, consisting of Malin Arvidson, Andri Soteri-Proctor, Rebecca Taylor and Simon Teasdale, with input from Duncan Scott and Pete Alcock. Different elements of the paper have benefitted significantly from questions, suggestions and discussion amongst audiences at seminars and conferences at Birmingham, Southampton, Oxford, Open and Leeds Universities. Particular thanks are due to Susan Halford, Pauline Leonard, Duncan Scott and Andri Soteri- Proctor for reading and making extensive and helpful comments and suggestions on an earlier version of the paper, and for editorial guidance from Pete Alcock. 2 1. Introduction There has been a rapidly growing interest in longitudinal research methods in recent decades. Social scientists have increasingly sought to understand what it might mean to take time seriously in both quantitative and qualitative research design and analysis (Leisering and Walker 1998, Rose 2000, McLeod and Thomson 2009). Above all, attention to various conceptions of temporality, and extending the duration of research engagement, offers the prospect of understanding the dynamic processes involved in social change. A longitudinal research gaze offers the promise of ‘seeing things differently’, and of understanding what happens next and why. This promise applies as much to the third sector as to anything else. This paper explores the potential of qualitative longitudinal research for developing understanding of the dynamics of the third sector. The Third Sector Research Centre has embarked upon a qualitative longitudinal study of third sector activities called ‘Real Times’. The paper sets out the thinking behind the study, placing it in a methodological, substantive and theoretical context. Thus it outlines the methodological interest in qualitative longitudinal research in the third sector, the substantive contextual issues the sector is experiencing as the study takes place, and some of the theoretical thinking which informs the study. Figure 1 on page 4 illustrates this schematically. The discussion proceeds as follows. Section 2 offers some preliminary methodological remarks on the growing interest in longitudinal research in social science, noting its relevance for, but relative absence in, third sector studies. This is intended to locate the ‘Real Times’ study in terms of recent developments in social research methodology, particularly around qualitative longitudinal research. This section concludes with the idea that qualitative longitudinal research in the third sector may provide a greater understanding of dynamic processes in third sector settings unfolding through time. Next, in section 3, the focus shifts towards some of the key substantive issues and developments facing the third sector. Attention is given both to general trends and issues occupying the sector and commentators in recent years, and to more immediate and pressing concerns of the current economic and political conjuncture. The aim here is to provide what might be called a ‘contextual baseline’ for ‘Real Times’, situating it more precisely alongside current debates and developments in the third sector. This section suggests that ‘Real Times’ may be able to capture some of the ongoing, diverse and complex experiences of third sector organisations during what is potentially a significant period of transformation. Section 4 then focuses the discussion by outlining the ‘Real Times’ project. In turn it explains the purpose, design and structure of the study. Finally, in section 5, the paper looks more broadly at some of the theoretical thinking involved in the study. Thus it provides an in-depth exploration of the research in the context of a range of intertwined ‘theoretical imaginings’. The purpose, design and focus of ‘Real Times’ has in part been informed by this theoretical thinking. Firstly this involves asking questions about the different temporalities involved in the third sector, and embedded in the processes and dynamics of third sector organisation. Secondly it outlines a putative ‘relational’ account of the third sector as a contested field or set of overlapping fields, in which participants, organisations and ideas aim to secure ‘room’ for existence and manoeuvre. Thirdly it explores how debates around third sector organisations and activities are 3 often imbued with assumptions about structure and agency, but this is rarely made explicit. Although discussed separately, these imaginings are deeply implicated with each other. Describing this theoretical discussion in terms of ‘imaginings’ is deliberately intended to signal their creative potential in prompting further ideas for exploration in the Real Times study and in third sector studies more generally. This includes exploring possible connections with other theoretical strands and resonance with concrete experiences in the third sector. Figure 1: The Third Sector Research Centre’s ‘Real Times’ qualitative longitudinal study – rationale and structure Methodological background Contextual baseline Theoretical imaginings A growing interest in Shaking up and shaking out temporalities qualitative longitudinal the third sector a relational account research strategic action in context ‘Real Times’ Purpose - to understand how third sector activity operates in practice over time: what happens within third sector organisations over time and why what matters to third sector organisations over time and why, and how might we understand continuity and change in third sector activity Fortunes Strategies What influences the How do third sector fortunes of third sector organisations regard organisations? and negotiate the environments in which they operate? Challenges Performance What challenges do How is the third sector ‘performance’ of third organisations face sector organisations and how do they understood by respond? different stakeholders? 4 2. A