Chapter 2. Participatory action research as a strategy for studying self-help groups internationally

Borkman, Thomasina; Schubert, Marsha

doi:10.1080/10852359409511196

Cited by 14 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…MHG researchers worldwide have long argued that traditional positivistic methodologies are inappropriate for the study of these groups. They say the positivistic paradigm will never map comfortably onto MHGs because it would destroy the indigenous control that defines MHGs (e.g., Borkman and Schubert 1994;Jacobs and Goodman 1989). Researchers say control group studies would jeopardize research validity in that the natural composition of MHGs would thereby be changed (Humphreys and Rappaport 1994).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Capturing Dynamic Processes of Change in GROW Mutual Help Groups for Mental Health

Finn

Bishop

Sparrow

2009

American J of Comm Psychol

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The need for a model that can portray dynamic processes of change in mutual help groups for mental health (MHGMHs) is emphasized. A dynamic process model has the potential to capture a more comprehensive understanding of how MHGMHs may assist their members. An investigation into GROW, a mutual help organization for mental health, employed ethnographic, phenomenological and collaborative research methods. The study examined how GROW impacts on psychological well being. Study outcomes aligned with the social ecological paradigm (Maton in Understanding the self-help organization: frameworks and findings. Sage, Thousand Oaks 1994) indicating multifactorial processes of change at and across three levels of analysis: group level, GROW program/community level and individual level. Outcome themes related to life skills acquisition and a change in self-perception in terms of belonging within community and an increased sense of personal value. The GROW findings are used to assist development of a dynamic multi-dimensional process model to explain how MHGMHs may promote positive change.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Capturing Dynamic Processes of Change in GROW Mutual Help Groups for Mental Health

Finn

Bishop

Sparrow

2009

American J of Comm Psychol

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“…Originally developed to deal with research in developing countries with huge cultural differences unknown to researchers and with populations suspicious of the motives of Western researchers (Green and Mercer, 2001), more recently participatory action research (PAR) or participatory research (PR) has been used in community psychology, sociology and other social sciences to study self-help groups (Borkman and Schubert, 1994; Chesler, 1991), minority groups (Green and Mercer, 2001; Le et al, 2011), and community health (Jason et al, 2004)…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Developing an Experiential Definition of Recovery: Participatory Research With Recovering Substance Abusers From Multiple Pathways

Borkman

Stunz

Kaskutas

2016

Substance Use & Misuse

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Background The What is Recovery? (WIR) study identified specific elements of a recovery definition that people in substance abuse recovery from multiple pathways would endorse. Objectives To explain how participatory research contributed to the development of a comprehensive pool of items defining recovery; and to identify the commonality between the specific items endorsed by participants as defining recovery and the abstract components of recovery found in four important broad recovery definitions Methods A four-step, mixed-methods, iterative process was used to develop and pretest items (August 2010 to February 2012). Online survey recruitment (n=238) was done via email lists of individuals in recovery and electronic advertisements; 54 were selected for in-depth telephone interviews. Analyses using experientially-based and survey research criteria resulted in a revised item pool of 47 refined and specific items. The WIR items were matched with the components of four important definitions. Results Recovering participants (1) proposed and validated new items; (2) developed an alternative response category to the Likert; (3) suggested criteria for eliminating items irrelevant to recovery. The matching of WIR items with the components of important abstract definitions revealed extensive commonality. Conclusions, importance The WIR items define recovery as ways of being, as a growth and learning process involving internal values and self-awareness with moral dimensions. This is the first wide-scale research identifying specific items defining recovery, which can be used to guide service provision in Recovery-Oriented Systems of Care.

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“…While experimental and quasi-experimental nomothetic research designs were considered useful, they were viewed as potentially failing to capture the complexity and richness of multiple MHG processes which required an idiographic approach. 25,29 Random assignment to comparison groups is viewed as jeopardising research validity in that the natural composition of MHGs would thereby be changed. MHGs are also viewed as not existing as an "intervention" apart from their members who are both the intervention itself and the objects of the intervention.…”

Section: A Complex Research Challengementioning

confidence: 99%

“…8,25 Participation in MHGs is not considered to be a discrete event like a treatment session, rather it is described as often including interaction before and after group meetings, as well as phone networking and social activities beyond the group. 29 Outcome goals for treatment programs and MHGs were also considered to differ, 22 the former looking to cure while the latter looked to maintenance. 30 In the past decade, researchers have come to recognise that controlled studies of MHGs may be neither possible nor desirable for understanding mutual help groups.…”

Section: A Complex Research Challengementioning

confidence: 99%

Mutual help groups: an important gateway to wellbeing and mental health

Finn

Bishop²,

Sparrow³

2007

Aust. Health Review

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Objective: This study investigated the impact of GROW, an Australia-wide community mental health organisation, on psychological wellbeing and mental health.Design: Triangulation of quantitative and qualitative research methods was employed. The study included a cross-sectional and a longitudinal survey of GROW members together with ethnographic and phenomenological work. Research outcomes:The results pointed to length of membership/extent of involvement in GROW activities as being associated with improved wellbeing in the areas of autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, and selfacceptance/purpose in life, together with a reduction in medication and hospitalisation. In a longitudinal study surveying the wellbeing of 28 new GROW members with 6-month follow-up, there were statistically significant improvements on all wellbeing factors. A major theme emerging from ethnographic and phenomenological research was that GROW offers a "real life" mini-community where people learn social and life management skills. However, beyond skills acquisition, GROW offers the potential for identity transformation by assisting the realisation of core human needs -a

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Chapter 2. Participatory action research as a strategy for studying self-help groups internationally

Cited by 14 publications

References 16 publications

Capturing Dynamic Processes of Change in GROW Mutual Help Groups for Mental Health

Capturing Dynamic Processes of Change in GROW Mutual Help Groups for Mental Health

Developing an Experiential Definition of Recovery: Participatory Research With Recovering Substance Abusers From Multiple Pathways

Mutual help groups: an important gateway to wellbeing and mental health

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