Qualitative Research Methods in Mental Health and Psychotherapy (eBook)

David Harper is Reader in Clinical Psychology at the University of East London. He is co-author of Deconstructing Psychopathology (1995) and Psychology & Mental Health: From Disorder to Experience (2011). His research focuses on critical psychology and social constructionist approaches in mental health. Andrew R. Thompson is Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology and Director of Research Training, at the NHS Clinical Psychology Training Unit, University of Sheffield. He is also Clinical Health Psychologist at the Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust and a practitioner of Cognitive Analytic Therapy

About the Contributors.

Acknowledgements.

PART I Getting Started.

1 Introduction (Andrew R. Thompson and David Harper).

2 Identifying and Synthesizing Qualitative Literature (Rachel
L. Shaw).

3 Ethical Issues in Qualitative Mental Health Research
(Andrew R. Thompson and Eleni Chambers).

4 Participation and Service User Involvement (Alison
Faulkner).

5 Qualitative Data Collection: Asking the Right Questions
(Hannah Frith and Kate Gleeson).

6 Qualitative Methods for Studying Psychotherapy Change
Processes (Robert Elliott).

7 Choosing a Qualitative Research Method (David
Harper).

PART II Methods.

8 Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis in Mental Health and
Psychotherapy Research (Michael Larkin and Andrew R.
Thompson).

9 Existentialist-Informed Hermeneutic Phenomenology (Carla
Willig and Abigail Billin).

10 Grounded Theory Methods for Mental Health Practitioners
(Alison Tweed and Kathy Charmaz).

11 Discourse Analysis (Eugenie Georgaca and Evrinomy
Avdi).

12 Narrative Psychology (Michael Murray and Sally
Sargeant).

13 Ethnomethodology/Conversation Analysis (Mark
Rapley).

14 Q Methodological Research in Mental Health and Psychotherapy
(Wendy Stainton Rogers and Phillip O. Dyson).

15 Thematic Analysis (Helene Joffe).

PART III Establishing Good Quality Qualitative Research in
Mental Health.

16 In Pursuit of Quality (Liz Spencer and Jane
Ritchie).

17 Emerging Issues and Future Directions (David Harper and
Andrew R. Thompson).

Index.

"In a field that at times feels dominated by obfuscating
jargon and a cult-like zeal, the editors have produced an
accessible, illuminating text that will be of great value to those
wishing to gain an introduction to this essential and developing
area of mental health research." (The British
Journal of Psychiatry, 1 May 2012)

"David Harper and Andrew Thompson's book Qualitative
Research Methods in Mental Health and Psychotherapy provides a
reference for students and practitioners who are using qualitative
research to explore topics related to mental health. The book
provides a rich and comprehensive text, with contributions from
specialized authors on a number of key themes and research methods
relevant to qualitative research. Despite being specifically aimed
at those researching mental health issues, this text would be
useful for any student or practitioner who wishes to get to grips
with 'big q research'..." (Feminism and
Psychology, 2013)

"Since receiving this book for review, I have found myself
repeatedly recommending it to fellow doctoral researchers
from a range of professional backgrounds, at all stages of
candidature. I do so because, in my opinion, this book addresses,
in an accessible, clear, yet thorough manner, the issues which all
students and practitioner-researchers face in aspiring to produce
high quality, creative, qualitative research in mental health and
psychotherapy." (QMiP Bulletin Issue 15, Spring
2013)



To the urgent questions facing researchers looking for methods that
are respectful of the diversity of experience of mental health and
ethical practice in psychotherapy, Harper and Thompson respond with
a series of different answers that are equally diverse and embedded
in a vision of what can be done to take academic and professional
work in the area forward. This book provides clearly written
qualitative accounts of the research process, and will serve as a
benchmark against which future developments in the field will be
measured.

--Ian Parker, Professor of Psychology,
Manchester Metropolitan University, UK

I really enjoyed reading this book! It is a very welcome
addition to the growing interest in applied and applicable
qualitative research in mental health practice. It is authored by a
group of practitioners who collectively are at the forefront of
promoting research grounded in practice, which celebrates the
skills and knowledge of the practitioner, and looks to find a good
fit between research questions and design and the needs of mental
health practitioners and the communities they serve. The book
emphasises participatory research in which service users and carers
are involved and consulted at all stages. It is accessible, easy to
navigate and, importantly, focuses on do-able research in mental
health settings.

--Arlele Vetere, Professor of Clinical
Psychology, University of Surrey, UK