Qualitative Research teaching, supervision and mentorship

The process of engaging in qualitative research is rather like ‘going exploring’. Uncharted territory beyond the reach of conventional research (with its claims to objectivity and its quantitative instincts) beckons us irresistibly. We embark on a ‘quest’ (Rosaldo, 1989); we sense that ‘adventure’ (Willig, 2001) lies ahead. Our preparations made, we begin our research journey with few fixed ideas about its content or destination. We expect to be surprised; we know that for all our planning, we will stumble into unanticipated situations or tread unmapped paths. What we discover along the way may astonish, delight or perplex us. We may lose our way, go round in circles, find solid ground giving way to mire, it matters not. The qualitative research journey remains enticing though “full of muddy ambiguity and multiple trails as researchers negotiate the swamp of interminable deconstructions, self-analysis and self-disclosure.” (Finlay, 2001, p.209). There are many routes through – many ways of doing qualitative research – and this very diversity means that decisions need to be carefully thought through. Research questions need to be defined and proposed. The research needs to be undertaken; findings written up and disseminated. Like explores bent on penetrating the unknown, qualitative researchers are fired by the excitement and challenge of the enterprise. The key challenge lies in mapping a path that safeguards our passage while enabling us to experience the richness and complexity of our research terrain. Compass, maps and guides (books, mentors and supervisors) can be an invaluable help.

Linda Finlay aims to offer something of this help and support to individuals embarking on their research journey. She offers a wide range of services related to teaching, supervision and mentorship (in qualitative research methodology specifically) for practitioners in fields of health care, psychology and psychotherapy:

Teaching – Services include: Organisation and teaching of Workshops and Study days for Health Trusts and educational institutions; Provision of independent or distance learning study guides. For example, Linda would offer one or two day workshops on qualitative research, tailormade to your institutional needs. In the past year she has run a range of workshops including ones in Eastbourne, Ireland and Sweden.

Supervision – Linda offers formal supervision for individuals engaged in qualitative research (her speciality being phenomenology). In this last year she has supervised post-graduate student research projects (working in parallel with the students' university appointed supervisor). In this role she has helped the students formulate their research question and choose the most appropriate methodology and helped with the data analysis process. She also supported a psychotherapy colleague in a one-off supervision session to help him in the process of doing some challenging practitioner research.

Mentorship – Linda offers support and advice about engaging qualitative research in a variety of ways. For example, in this last year Linda assisted an individual in writing a research proposal. She has also been working with a colleague, helping her with academic writing skills with a view to publishing an article.

Consultancy fees are on a sliding scale - negotiated on a individual basis depending on the nature of the relationship and the time and level of commitment involved. Much of the supervision and mentorship offered can be conducted through email and/telephone contact. If you would like to discuss what Linda Finlay might offer to you as an individual or to your organisation [click here] to contact Linda by email.