Qualitative Research into Mental Health: Reflections on Epistemology
| Pages | 36-42 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/13619322200900006 |
| Date | 15 May 2009 |
| Published date | 15 May 2009 |
| Author | Stephen Joseph,Charlotte Beer,David Clarke,Allan Forman,Martyn Pickersgill,Judy Swift,John Taylor,Victoria Tischler |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care |
Mental Health Review Journal Volume 14 Issue 1 March 2009 © Pavilion Journals (Brighton) Ltd
36
RESEARCH
Stephen Joseph
School of Sociology and Social Policy, University of Nottingham, UK
Charlotte Beer
School of Community Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, UK
David Clarke
School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, UK
Allan Forman
Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, UK
Martyn Pickersgill
Institute for Science and Society, University of Nottingham, UK
Judy Swift
School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, UK
John Taylor
School of Community Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, UK
Victoria Tischler
School of Community Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, UK
Qualitative Research into
Mental Health: Reflections on
Epistemology
Abstract
In 2005, the Qualitative Methods in Psychosocial Health Research Group (QMiPHR) at the University of Nottingham
was established as a forum to bring together academics, researchers and practitioners with an interest in qualitative
methods. The group has provided colleagues in nutrition, psychiatry, psychology, social work and sociology with
a forum for discussion around the question of how qualitative research is able to contribute to understanding
mental health and the development of evidence-based treatment. As a group, we asked ourselves where we stood
in relation to the use of qualitative methods in mental health. While we are unified in our view that qualitative
research is important and under-utilised in mental health research, our discussions uncovered a range of views
on the underlying philosophical stance of what it means to be a qualitative researcher in mental health. The aim of
this paper is to provide an overview of our discussions and our view that as qualitative approaches have become
more widely accepted they have largely been assimilated within the mainstream ’medical model’ of research. In this
paper, we call for researchers to re-engage with the philosophical discussion on the role and purpose of qualitative
enquiry as it applies to mental health, and for practitioners and decision-makers to be aware of the implicit values
underpinning research.
Key words
Epistemology, evidence-based treatment, medical model, qualitative research
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