Qualitative Research in Practice : Stories From the Field - Blogs Unpad
Qualitative Research in Practice : Stories From the Field - Blogs Unpad
Qualitative Research in Practice : Stories From the Field - Blogs Unpad
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Epilogue<br />
• Diffusion (dissem<strong>in</strong>at<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>formation)<br />
• Adoption (implement<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> program).<br />
Fraser and Leavitt (1990) use <strong>the</strong> US model of <strong>in</strong>tensive family-based<br />
services, ‘Homebuilders’, as a case study of this type of research,<br />
which typically <strong>in</strong>volves a large number of people and organisations.<br />
However, most research <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> human services will not be part<br />
of such a l<strong>in</strong>ear strategic process, as some of <strong>the</strong> follow<strong>in</strong>g stories<br />
illustrate well.<br />
<strong>Stories</strong> from <strong>the</strong> field<br />
We have selected quite a few of our stories to highlight <strong>the</strong> impact<br />
that qualitative research <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> human services can have, both <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
short term, sometimes commenc<strong>in</strong>g dur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> study itself, through<br />
to <strong>the</strong> long term. The first one we present is Anne Coleman’s study<br />
(2001), which was still <strong>in</strong> progress at <strong>the</strong> time we <strong>in</strong>terviewed her.<br />
We were <strong>in</strong>terested <strong>in</strong> f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g out about <strong>the</strong> impact that research<br />
may have, even at such an early stage. This is followed with an<br />
excerpt from <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>terview with Cheryl Tilse. It picks up from <strong>the</strong><br />
previous chapter and relates to reach<strong>in</strong>g audiences beyond <strong>the</strong><br />
research sites through conference presentations and media <strong>in</strong>terviews<br />
(Tilse, 1996). Carol<strong>in</strong>e Thomas <strong>the</strong>n speaks briefly about <strong>the</strong><br />
impact her adoption study has had <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> year s<strong>in</strong>ce its publication<br />
(Thomas, 1999), and how <strong>the</strong> political environment <strong>in</strong> which it<br />
was released gave it a special salience. Liz Kelly discusses how her<br />
study’s different conceptualisation of domestic violence <strong>in</strong>tervention<br />
struck a chord with workers <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> field of family violence (Kelly,<br />
1999). Jackie Sanders also talks about how <strong>the</strong> research she has<br />
done with Robyn Munford has been used by a range of people, from<br />
students and practitioners to policy-makers and fund<strong>in</strong>g sources.<br />
We conclude with Dorothy Scott reflect<strong>in</strong>g on <strong>the</strong> long-term<br />
outcomes of her research undertaken with maternal and child health<br />
nurses <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> early 1980s (Scott, 1987a, 1987b, 1992).<br />
Anne Coleman—Five star motels<br />
Anne:<br />
Yes, I’ve quite a strong sense of [impact] now ...I’ve<br />
talked to a lot of people <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> last ten years, <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
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