Some reflections on social care research: joys, tribulations and aspirations

Social care researchers, like their colleagues in other fields, are generally too busy investigating the needs and concerns of others to turn the spotlight around to consider their own activity. But it is a useful exercise, from time to time, to reflect on the impact of the research task on researchers themselves and on others involved in the research process. This paper does not pretend to offer any new evidence on these issues, but it may help those working in social care research to take stock and gain some insight into paths they might usefully explore.