hi petra
 
your mail about research methods reminded me that there is a conference on 'qualitative research and marginalisation' next week.  perhaps some of the issues you raised will be discussed there?
 
the second example you gave, about the impact of research interviews on researchers also reminded me of the mental health foundation's work supporting user-led research projects.  as i understand it, the support they offer their researchers accounts for the impact of the research process as a whole as well as academic 'super'vision.
 
suzanne

-----Original Message-----

From: The UK Community Psychology Discussion List [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Petra Boynton

Sent: 27 April 2006 11:54

To: [log in to unmask]

Subject: Re: Talking of talking

Here's one example.  Some people assume some methods (usually quantitative ones) are inherently oppressive or problematic.  For example a questionnaire may force people to select a particular answer.  Other methods (more often qualitative ones), may be seen as more open or fair.  However for some participants and researchers dealing with some topics action research may feel quite invasive.

Two examples (since the above is rather vague) in one piece of community research colleagues and myself were involved in on sex workers we were commissioned to run interviews with sex workers.  We had little success and discovered from the women we were working with that an 'interview' was something they saw  as tools used by journalists and the police.  We asked them what method they'd prefer, they said 'questionnaires' because they could tick things without having to reveal as much of themselves.  (This picks up on Mike's message about choosing methods which I'll tackle in another email).  It presented a number of dilemmas - we wanted to include participants and work to suit their needs, we also needed to collect data to answer questions (and keep a funding body happy), yet the researchers felt they'd been taught qualtiative research was better in this situation and were worried about using questionnaires.

The second example moves beyond participants and methods and looks at researchers.  A colleague ran a study of mental health service users experiences of using their GP.  Existing service users were trained up to be part of an action research study.  However, whilst all the methodological bases were covered, nobody really thought to monitor the daily experiences of discussing mental distress with other service users.  Several of the service user researchers found this difficult, distressing and felt they had 'failed' as researchers but also felt distressed outside of work.

So I suppose what I'm interested in unpacking is all that hidden stuff behind methods - the practical aspects of research, the safety and wellbeing of everyone concerned in a study, as well as really critically evaluating the methods we 'use' because sometimes we well meaningly pick a method that our participants don't like.

PB

 

At 11:04 27/04/2006, you wrote:

Petra

Could you expand on this, perhaps by giving a specific example of what you mean, in order to fuel a discussion?

John

----- Original Message -----

From: Petra Boynton

To: [log in to unmask]

Sent: Wednesday, April 26, 2006 5:25 PM

Subject: Re: Talking of talking

I'd welcome Mike's suggestion around discussing ethnography, action research and critical reflexiveness.  One question that could get us started is how to reconcile a critical stance with some of the issues/problems inherent in many research methods.

bw

PB

At 17:22 26/04/2006, you wrote:

Hello All

 

There are plenty of places/spaces to talk about therapy - mindfulness or not, moreover, psychological notions seem to be permeating more and more aspects of at least my lifeworld. I would agree, however, indeed for a community psychology list there is far too much talk about therapy and far too little about ethnography/action research/critical reflexive-ness (beyond the 'I work for the NHS and find it hard to keep my job and criticize it' - which I understand, but it's only a small way to examining challenging institutional hegemonies (Apologies for spelling)), even some discussion about non-experimental social psychology would be refreshing. The list has been quite quiet recently - What are people up to?

 

Mike

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Petra M Boynton, PhD

Lecturer in Health Services Research

Department Primary Care and Population Sciences, UCL.

Open Learning Unit, Archway Campus

4th Floor, Holborn Union Building, Highgate Hill

London, N19 5LW.

Tel: 0207 288 3325      Mob: 07967 212925

The Research Companion Messageboard - share your experiences and get support here! www.psypress.co.uk/boynton

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COMMUNITYPSYCHUK - The discussion list for community psychology in the UK. To unsubscribe or to change your details visit the website: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/COMMUNITYPSYCHUK.HTML For any problems or queries, contact the list moderator at [log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask]

Petra M Boynton, PhD

Lecturer in Health Services Research

Department Primary Care and Population Sciences, UCL.

Open Learning Unit, Archway Campus

4th Floor, Holborn Union Building, Highgate Hill

London, N19 5LW.

Tel: 0207 288 3325      Mob: 07967 212925

The Research Companion Messageboard - share your experiences and get support here! www.psypress.co.uk/boynton

___________________________________

COMMUNITYPSYCHUK - The discussion list for community psychology in the UK. To unsubscribe or to change your details visit the website: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/COMMUNITYPSYCHUK.HTML For any problems or queries, contact the list moderator at [log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask]

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COMMUNITYPSYCHUK - The discussion list for community psychology in the UK. To unsubscribe or to change your details visit the website: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/COMMUNITYPSYCHUK.HTML For any problems or queries, contact the list moderator at [log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask]