The Affective Researcher

The Affective Researcher challenges the illusion of life in academic research and emphasizes the impact of wider social changes on the working lives of researchers. It provides a path to becoming a more rounded, authentic researcher by integrating the affective perspective and asserting agency over the research process.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 184 pages
Publication date: 27 July 2022
Publisher: Emerald Publishing Limited

The transition from the broader conditions of society and our own personal circumstances to the research world is not a straightforward one. The illusion of life in academic research as an abstract 'life of the mind' is unsustainable. Outside academia, wider social changes have gained increasing influence over our working lives. Within the academy, changing employment conditions and funding for higher education have resulted in an increasingly insecure existence for those pursuing PhDs and further research.

A slow but significant shift is underway in response to these challenges. There is a growing emphasis on precarity within the academy, the mental health needs of early career researchers, and a more honest and transparent portrayal of what it truly takes to build an academic career.

The Affective Researcher aims to address this challenge by providing a clear and concise guide for researchers to become more rounded, authentic, and affective in their work. It does not focus on risk management or the suppression of subjectivity as a threat to objectivity. Instead, it offers a path to becoming a more empathetic researcher.

The book draws upon a diverse range of discourses to provide a roadmap for researchers to assert their agency over the research process through the integration of the affective perspective. The chapters are organized in a way that allows readers to navigate through the various aspects of becoming an affective researcher, including self-awareness, reflexivity, empathy, and emotional intelligence.

Self-awareness is crucial for researchers to understand their own biases, values, and emotions, which can impact their research. Reflexivity involves reflecting on the research process and considering how one's own experiences and perspectives shape the findings. Empathy enables researchers to understand the experiences and perspectives of others, which can improve the quality and relevance of their work. Emotional intelligence involves managing one's own emotions and regulating them in response to the demands of the research process.

By integrating these aspects into their research, researchers can develop a more nuanced and empathetic understanding of the topics they study. This can lead to more effective and impactful research that addresses real-world problems and contributes to the betterment of society.

In conclusion, the transition from the broader conditions of society and our own personal circumstances to the research world is not an easy one. However, by embracing the affective perspective and integrating it into our work, researchers can become more rounded, authentic, and empathetic in their approach. The Affective Researcher provides a valuable roadmap for researchers to achieve this goal, offering a combination of theoretical insights and practical tools to help them on their journey.

Weight: 208g
Dimension: 130 x 197 x 14 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781802623369