Practitioner research made easier: A report on the GRIP project

An article in this journal in 2007 outlined an innovative programme in progress in Auckland at that time. Growing Research in Practice (GRIP) involved groups of social service practitioners who carried out small and manageable research projects on topics that piqued their interest within the workplace. The main aim of the GRIP programme was to nurture a culture of practitioner enquiry in social service agencies in Auckland, in an attempt at facilitating meaningful change and service improvement in the longer term. This article reports on the findings from the second phase of the evaluation of the programme where seven participants were interviewed about their reflections on GRIP and the outcomes of the programme. The article offers recommendations for social service practitioners in this regard.