The strolling study: psychogeography for organisational researchers

Abstract

This paper sets out a claim for organisational research employing a psychogeographic approach. The central London street of Marylebone Lane is used as an example of a location where organisations may be studied using psychogeographic methods. Important aspects of research practice – ethics, access, anonymity of participants, are compared with methods used in psychogeography. A great concern about psychogeography is that it is a male preserve. This issue is explored alongside researcher safety and the use of feminist perspective research methods is also introduced. The paper concludes with the view that psychogeography would offer a great deal to organisational research with the caveats it is not appropriate for premises that are closed to the public and that as a woman researcher one should be responsible with regard to personal safety.