A contribution is made to the ongoing debate about maagement research by highlighting a number of behavioural issues relating to researching part-time for a higher degree. The author has identified and discussed those elements of the research process of greatest relevance to the part-time researcher. The social relations impinging on the research process are analysed by using the concepts of role and relationship to build a role relationship model. It is emphasised in the conclusion that the issues raised throughout the paper have been discussed at both a theoretical and a practical level.