Qualitative Research Methods in Mental Health and Psychotherapy

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)