Rich Furman

Establishing Trustworthiness in Qualitative Research in Social Work Implications from a Study Regarding Spirituality

As the use of qualitative inquiry increases within the field of social work, researchers must consider the issue of establishing rigor in qualitative research. This article presents research procedures used in a study of autoethnographies that were written regarding the experience of being Jewish. In this project, the researchers utilized reflexivity, audit trail, triangulation by observer, peer debriefing, member check and prolonged engagement in order to manage the threats to trustworthiness as discussed by Padgett (1998). Implications of the project suggest that research procedures utilized by qualitative researchers to establish rigor are an important way to increase our confidence that the voice of the participants is heard, therefore fitting the mission of the social work profession.

Poetic Forms and Structures in Qualitative Health Research

In this article, the author explores the uses of poetic forms in qualitative health research, analyzing the matically a poem written from a patients perspective of being treated in an emergency room. From the themes identified, he created two “research poems” using two formal poetic structures: the French-Malaysian pantoum, and the Japanese-inspired American tanka. The author contextualizes this research through an exploration of the arts and poetry as qualitative research.

An International Experience for Social Work Students: Self-Reflection Through Poetry and Journal Writing Exercises

ABSTRACT This descriptive article explores the uses of poetry and journaling exercises as means of helping students develop their self-reflective capacities within the context of international social work. First, self-reflection and its importance to social work practice and education is discussed. Second, the importance of self-reflection in international and cross-cultural work is highlighted. Third, the application of poetry and other journal writing exercises as a means of facilitating self-reflection is explored. Poems written in response to structured exercises by students who took part in an international experience in social work education in Leon, Nicaragua, are presented as examples. The exercises presented can be used by educators in various helping professions who seek to help their students expand their self-reflective skills and engage in cross-cultural and international practice.

A Qualitative Study of Immigration Policy and Practice Dilemmas for Social Work Students

Social policy shapes the infrastructure wherein social work is practiced. However, what happens when a particular social policy is seemingly incongruent with the social work code of ethics? How do social work students conceive and resolve potential practice dilemmas that may arise as a consequence? In this study, the authors explored potential practice dilemmas as a result of Proposition 200, an Arizona immigration law that would require social workers employed in the public sector to deny services to undocumented clients. The 6-step analysis found that students recognized various practice dilemmas that the policy would present and conflicts between the policy and social work ethics. Students also identified numerous strategies for resolving the above-mentioned dilemmas.

The criminalization of immigration and the privatization of the immigration detention: implications for justice

In recent decades, the criminalization of immigration and the use of private prisons have increased in popularity. The criminalization of immigration and the privatization of prisons work hand in hand in shaping the American criminal justice response to immigration. Privatization creates a powerful opportunity for the social construction of the undocumented immigrant into a powerful potential source of revenue for for-profit corporations. Private prison corporations, such as Corrections Corporation of American and The GEO Group, stand to profit significantly from the private immigration detention center. Several investigative reports have focused on how these companies stand to profit, but little attention has been given to the psychosocial consequences that impact immigrant detainees and their families.

Explorations of Depression Poetry and Narrative in Autoethnographic Qualitative Research

This article explores the uses of poetry in qualitative research. In this study of the first author’s lived experience with non-clinical depression and the second author’s experience of living with someone experiencing depression, poetry and responsive narrative are used as data, as means of data representation, and processes of inquiry. The authors explore the nature of poetry as a tool for investigating human phenomena and its congruence with post-modern methods of research. Autoethnographic poems are used as data and analyzed via narrative written by the original author of the poem on two separate occasions. A third researcher added an additional layer of narrative analysis for increased depth. This self-reflection provides reflexive analysis of our individual understanding of depression via narrative.

Using poetry and written exercises to teach empathy

The purpose of this article is to demonstrate how exercises associated with poetry and bibliotherapy can be useful in assisting faculties of the helping professions teach empathy to their students. A brief exploration of the concept of empathy is discussed. Next, exercises useful in teaching empathy are presented. Finally, a case study of the work of social work students is presented to illuminate uses of exercises for teaching this important concept and skill.

EXPLORING FRIENDSHIP LOSS THROUGH POETRY

Losing friendships are significant events for people throughout their life span. In spite of the importance of friendships to psychosocial health, studies of friendships loss are not found in the literature. This article begins to address this gap through a qualitative study utilizing autobiographical poetry as data. This study exemplifies expressive arts research methods which are becoming increasingly influential to qualitative research.

Space to Grow Using Dialogue Techniques for Multinational, Multicultural Learning

Dialogue as a technique for group facilitation is valuable for social workers working in the international arena. This article explores the theoretical and practice implications of the dialogue approach. The authors have found that this process offers transformative experiences for participants when used at multinational, multicultural conferences and training events. Two examples of the dialogue approach are presented, from consultation and conference work in Russia and Central and Eastern European communities.

Poetry as research: Advancing scholarship and the development of poetry therapy as a profession

To be effective and to achieve legitimization, each profession must develop its own body of knowledge. Within a social context characterized by the increasing influence of for-profit managed care corporations and the expanded influenced of the medical model, many helping professions have turned to logical positivism as a model for knowledge acquisition. Yet, the methods associated with this epistemological position may not be consonant with the values and knowledge needs of poetry therapy as a profession. Fortunately, advances in expressive arts research has lead to the development of methods congruent with the aims and needs of the burgeoning profession. The research poem is examined as one potential vehicle through which to improve the research agenda of poetry therapy.