Anne Corden

Exploring ‘Quality’: Research Participants’ Perspectives on Verbatim Quotations

Support for inclusion of verbatim quotations from research participants in reporting qualitative applied social research is strengthened by evaluative tools which point to presentation of extracts of original data as an indication of clarity of links between data, interpretation and conclusion. This article contributes to discussion about ‘quality’ criteria and the role of verbatim quotations from the perspectives of those who speak the words. The authors describe an exploratory empirical study to test the impact on research participants of seeing their words in a report. This small study is part of a wider, Economic and Social Research Council‐funded study of the theory, practice and impact of using verbatim quotations in reporting applied social research. Findings from the exploratory study raise important issues. Research participants preferred the version of the report which included spoken words, and saw ways in which spoken words contributed positively to interpretation and reporting. However, the ‘quality indicators’ perceived in relation to the verbatim quotations sometimes did not reflect the authors’ intentions in selecting and using the words. Participants had strong views on ethical issues associated with use of their spoken words. Maintaining anonymity was important, as was the way they perceived themselves represented as a result of the authors’ editing decisions and the form of the attributions at the end of the quotations. The study raises questions about how far and in what way the perspectives of research participants should be taken into account in judging the ‘quality’ of qualitative research.

Time and Change: A Review of the Qualitative Longitudinal Research Literature for Social Policy

The four earlier articles in this themed section are based on presentations at a workshop convened to explore challenges in using qualitative longitudinal methods for policy-related research, with particular focus on data analysis and interpretation. Together, they provide useful pointers to the scope of qualitative longitudinal approaches, and extensive discussion of management and analysis of the particular and complex data produced. Readers who are interested in pursuing themselves a qualitative longitudinal approach to policy-related social research will want also to look to a wider literature to enhance their understanding of issues to be taken into consideration, and to explore the range of methods and options. The aim of this review article is to provide some ideas about the kind of literature likely to prove helpful. The bibliographic references for this review article are supplemented by the guide to sources which completes this themed section.

Qualitative Longitudinal Research for Social Policy – Introduction to Themed Section

Understanding the nature and process of change over time is an important part of social research. Large-scale longitudinal studies, such as the various birth cohorts and the British Household Panel Survey, have transformed the way in which we understand the relationships between individual lifecourse, family formation and dissolution, economic and social change, and social policy. Qualitative methods for longitudinal research are not yet as well established in social policy research as quantitative methods, but they are attracting increasing interest. The papers in this themed section were first presented at a Social Policy Association sponsored workshop held in London in November 2005. The main aim of the workshop was to explore the challenges of using such data for policy-related research, focusing in particular on data analysis and interpretation.

Using a model of group psychotherapy to support social research on sensitive topics

This article describes the exploratory use of professional therapeutic support by social researchers working on a sensitive topic. Talking to recently bereaved parents about the financial implications of their child’s death was expected to be demanding work, and the research design included access to an independent psychotherapeutic service. Using this kind of professional support is rare within the general social research community, and it is useful to reflect on the process. There are likely to be implications for collection and interpretation of data, research output and the role and experience of the therapist. Here, the primary focus is the potential impact on researcher well‐being.

Sexing the Enterprise: Gender, Work and Resource Allocation in Self-Employed Households

Growth in self-employment was a particularly striking feature of labour market change in Britain during the 1980s, and one significant aspect of such growth was the comparatively rapid expansion of this way of working among women. Data from the Labour Force Survey indicate that self-employment is still predominantly a male activity: in the winter of 1995/6 nearly 800,000 women were self-employed compared with just over 2.4 million men (Department of Employment, 1996). Nevertheless, between 1979 and 1990 the number of women recorded as working for themselves rose by more than 150 per cent, nearly twice the rate of increase for men (Department of Employment, 1993).

Qualitative Longitudinal Analysis for Policy: Incapacity Benefits Recipients Taking Part in Pathways to Work

This article draws on the authors’ experience in conducting a recent qualitative longitudinal study in the evaluation of the Pathways to Work Pilot for incapacity benefits recipients. Findings from the qualitative longitudinal research highlighted issues that might not otherwise have been apparent. This approach to policy-related research provides new perspectives and opportunities for substantive findings. It also presents a number of challenges. Issues arise about how to engage with policy makers when exploring changes over time. Policymakers are often keen to have ‘emerging findings’ from panel data, but an initial cross-sectional analysis to meet such requirements contains views and experiences of people who subsequently drop out of the panel. The full longitudinal perspective then comes from a smaller group, and there may be some surprises in comparison with the ‘emerging findings’. At the same time, the focus of policy interests may shift during the lifetime of the panel, especially during a pilot or trial in a rapidly developing policy area. Researchers may be asked to introduce new topics or abandon some lines of enquiry, and may face ethical issues in deciding how to make best use of the data.

When a child dies: Money matters

The financial implications of a death are rarely discussed--indeed, in the case of a childs death, almost never. This article describes an exploratory study conducted in the United Kingdom in response to the belief of staff in a childrens hospice that for many bereaved parents, the nature and extent of their financial problems were obstructing the effectiveness of support and help available to deal with emotional aspects of grief and loss. Findings from depth interviews with bereaved parents and staff in health and care services, and a questionnaire sent to all U.K. childrens hospices, throw light on the reasons for and the impact of financial problems. Findings provide a number of pointers to ways of improving support for parents whose child dies. At the same time, findings provide strong arguments for including money in debate about dealing with death in contemporary society.

Self‐Employed People in the United Kingdom: Included or Excluded?

Within the United Kingdom social security scheme, self-employed people remain excluded from some of the most valuable benefits, yet there is some evidence to suggest underuse of benefits to which they do have access. There are administrative problems in dealing with applications for benefit from self-employed people, and there is considerable undercollection of the National Insurance contributions that are due. Self-employed people in the United Kingdom are not well provided for through private pensions and insurance. The author draws on her recent research, and argues that a fundamental review of social security for self-employed people in the United Kingdom is overdue.

Assessment of self‐employed earnings for family credit

Self‐employment grew rapidly in the UK during the 1980s, but many of those involved have relatively low earnings. Self‐employed people can apply for the main in‐work means‐tested benefits, but they may have special problems claiming their entitlement. This article discusses the conceptual and administrative complexities involved in assessing self‐employed earnings for social security adjudication, concentrating on family credit. The requirements of adjudication for family credit are demanding: they include consistency of treatment in a highly heterogeneous sector with information obtained only through postal applications, equity between self‐employed people and wage‐earners, speedy responses and minimal opportunities for manipulation.