Exploring human action in counseling psychology: The action-project research method.

Young, Richard A.; Domene, José F.; Valach, Ladislav; Socholotiuk, Krista

doi:10.1037/cou0000533

Cited by 18 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…The qualitative action-project method [ 37 , 38 ] was used to collect and analyze data. Contextual action theory [ 34 ] provided the conceptual and methodological framework, and the research strategy was Stake’s [ 39 ] multicase study approach.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For cases with an individual parent participant, a researcher served as the parent’s conversation partner. The procedures of the action-project method are designed to produce rich description of dyadic action but are flexible to allow for adaptations provided the research problem is framed from the perspective of goal-directed action and action is the unit of analysis [ 38 ]. For the cases where a researcher served as a conversation partner, the parent directed the focus of the conversation and the researcher responded in ways that helped the parent talk about the weight restoration actions they were engaged in and how they engaged in these actions in their day to day lives.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Weight restoration in adolescent anorexia: parents’ goal-directed processes

Socholotiuk

Young

2022

J Eat Disord

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Background Parent-led weight restoration is a key intervention of family-based treatment, an empirically supported treatment for adolescent anorexia. Successful outcomes in family-based treatment depend almost entirely on parental action, yet current understandings of this intervention are primarily informed by professional theory and expert perspectives. Comparatively little is known about parents’ goals and actions while implementing the treatment, despite goal-directed action being an explicit framework of family-based treatment. This study seeks to investigate parents’ involvement in weight restoration from the perspective of the goal-directed actions they construct and engage in themselves and with others. This study focuses on the phenomenon of parent-led weight restoration as a project and addresses the following research question: “How do parents participate in the weight restoration of their adolescent as the adolescent recovers from anorexia nervosa?”. Method This multicase study used the action project method and conceptual framework of contextual action theory to examine four cases of five parents engaged in actions to help their adolescent regain weight and recover from anorexia. Data were collected using multi-part interviews and analyzed according to the action project method and the multicase approach. Results Parents’ weight restoration projects were identified and grouped based on three common a themes. The primary theme, progressing toward health and well-being, was supported by three key processes: maintaining a holistic focus, trusting, and monitoring progress. Two secondary themes captured actions that were integral to the parents’ projects, but with less prominence. Secondary themes were creating capacity, which was supported by three processes (managing emotions to maintain a helpful focus, personal work, and resourcing time and finances), and coordinating and negotiating partnerships. The socio-cultural valuing of the thin ideal emerged as a unique process salient in one case. This study presents a goal-directed and contextual perspective on how parents translated the principles of family-based treatment into their daily lives. It joins a small but growing body of work concerned with generating new understandings and frameworks for practitioners and researchers to enhance the effectiveness of family-based treatment in community settings.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Weight restoration in adolescent anorexia: parents’ goal-directed processes

Socholotiuk

Young

2022

J Eat Disord

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“…Often participants are similar in terms of the experience and other attributes. 12,13 The researcher seeks to describe the essence of the experience, make sense of it, and record the data retrospectively through in-depth interviews. 12 According to phenomenological methods, the interviewer, in this instance the first author, is the primary instrument of research.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perceptions of How Integrated Care Impacts Treatment in Rural Settings

Graham

Nandyal²,

Ayad³

2022

OJPH

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Background: In light of the changing face of health care, it is important that practitioners and researchers begin to think strategically regarding comprehensive and accessible care. The purpose of this research study is to provide a deeper understanding of change among health care providers who work on multidisciplinary teams and the impact on patient outcomes. Methods: This research was designed as an exploratory phenomenological research study. The experience of interest was how providers described changes in care when working in an integrated care context. Eight semistructured in-depth interviews were conducted with physicians, nurse practitioners, social workers, and psychologists from locations in Southern Ohio, Central Maine, and Eastern Tennessee. Data were analyzed using qualitative coding to find patterns with and across participants associated with their perceptions of health integration. Results: Final developed themes described provider perceptions of working in an integrated care environment, and included access to care, interprofessional education, communication between providers. Conclusion: Through interviews and a review of the literature, we have found that as integrated care is employed throughout the country, patients have better health outcomes and providers experience efficient and effective work environments. Providers have adapted to the changing environment of integrative medicine; through this study we see that these changes have been for the benefit of the patients. Patients who disproportionately suffer from a lack of health care resources, such as those in rural areas, may benefit greatly from an integrated care model.

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“…Contextual action theory has led to the development and use of a qualitative research method, known as the action-project method (A-PM; Wall et al, 2016;Young et al, 2005;Young et al, 2021). The method is used to describe joint actions and projects.…”

Section: Research Applicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Facilitating Life-Enhancing Career in the Context of Significant Social Challenges and Changes: The Perspective of Goal-Directed Action

Young

Chi

2022

Swiss Psychology Open

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The problems and challenges people in both Eastern and Western societies face regarding life work and career are complex and in flux. These issues range from a neoliberal socio-economic climate to the increasing prevalence of the gig economy and part-time work. These problems, compounded by racism and social injustice, threaten the existential and moral commitment required not only for sustained work involvement but also for constructing a meaningful life. The neoliberal agenda appears to give pre-eminence to individual agency. However, at the same time, it challenges the joint collaborative and cooperative requirements needed to construct meaningful long-term carreers. These challenges to long-term career are elaborated. In this article, we address this problem by examining the conceptual link between short-term, goaldirected actions, mid-term projects and long-term career, in an approach known as contextual action theory. Essentially, this framework suggests that long-term career is constructed through in-the-moment goal-directed actions and mid-term projects, both of which require significant components to contribute to a meaningful and motivated career. This article provides the opportunity to examine the characteristics of contextual action theory that contribute to addressing the challenges to long term career, including goals as explanatory, relation to the other, the process of change, culture, and social justice. These characteristics are illustrated by referring to current research and practice that have emerged from contextual action theory.

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Exploring human action in counseling psychology: The action-project research method.

Cited by 18 publications

References 47 publications

Weight restoration in adolescent anorexia: parents’ goal-directed processes

Weight restoration in adolescent anorexia: parents’ goal-directed processes

Perceptions of How Integrated Care Impacts Treatment in Rural Settings

Facilitating Life-Enhancing Career in the Context of Significant Social Challenges and Changes: The Perspective of Goal-Directed Action

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