Qualitative Methods

Qualitative research has been limited when exploring the therapeutic

experiences and therefore suggesting particular practices for survivors of CSA. Due to the identified limitation of available published research in this area, the current study aimed to build upon and expand on current literature by identifying helpful and unhelpful practice when working with CSA survivors. As the reviewed qualitative research was perceived to provide rich and comprehensive information about survivors’ experiences and therapeutic practice, it was thus adopted for the current study. A qualitative approach was considered most appropriate due to this study being exploratory in nature and concerned with developing a deep

understanding of the experiences, opinions and knowledge of participants.

Qualitative research methods are frequently used in the social sciences as its design allows for in-depth, rich and sensitive information about phenomena to be discovered (Denzin & Lincoln, 2005). Not only does it assist researchers to identify what people believe, but also the underlying reasons why they do so, based on their

interpretation of complex, psychosocial subjective phenomena, such as CSA (e.g., Alaggia & Millington, 2008; Denov, 2004). Qualitative research allows participants to explain how they make meaning, and attach values to their experiences, thus enabling researchers to gain a deeper understanding of the phenomena. Aside from this type of inquiry enabling a comprehensive exploration of complex phenomena, it also allows for previously unanticipated or unidentified information to be discovered and elaborated on (Charmaz, 2006). Due to these strengths of qualitative research, it was considered best suited to exploring the needs and experiences of survivors of CSA, based on perceived helpful and unhelpful practices employed by mental health professionals.

4.2.1 Semi-structured interviewing.

Qualitative research frequently employs the use of a semi-structured interviewing style and is considered effective when investigating range of areas of social inquiry (Charmaz, 2006). The application of semi-structured interviews is an intensive and comprehensive method that allows for the capturing of the experiences of the participant. Semi-structured interviews comprise of non-directive, open- ended questions, formulated to elicit quality data. It allows the researcher to gain in- depth insight into beliefs, attitudes, perceptions and experiences relevant to the area of interest, without predetermining the nature of the information (Patton, 2002). The use of semi-structured interviews also allows the researcher to interact with the participant and ask for further clarification or explanation, thus deviating from the interview schedule. Using semi-structured interviewing has been used in previous research investigating what CSA survivors found helpful or unhelpful in therapy (McGregor et al., 2006).

Semi-structured interviewing is frequently used due to three main benefits. Firstly, it is complementary with many methods of qualitative research and data analysis (Willig, 2006). Secondly, semi-structured interviewing provides

opportunities for new and unanticipated themes to emerge. While the researcher has their own guide, the participant is able to deviate from the question and explore topical trajectories (Cohen & Crabtree, 2006). This is particularly useful when exploring areas that have not been extensively researched. Finally, this interviewing

style is collaborative in that it places the participant in the role of being the ‘expert’ of their own experiences, and not the researcher. They are able provide context and elaborate on their interpretations and opinions. Due to these noted strengths, semi- structured interviewing was regarded as the most appropriate method of inquiring about the experiences and needs of CSA survivors.

4.2.2 Thematic analysis.

Thematic analysis was used for the current study as its fundamental

principles are shared by all qualitative methodologies, which are essentially thematic in nature (Braun & Clark, 2006). This flexible type of analysis also accommodates and is suitable for a large range of theoretical frameworks and perspectives (Braun & Clark). Therefore, thematic analysis can be adopted and applied to any area of qualitative research.

Thematic analysis is a process for identifying, analysing and reporting themes within qualitative data (Boyatzis, 1998). Employing this approach allows the researcher to organise and describe data in rich detail, as well as interpret and account for complex data (Boyatzis).

The thematic analysis used in the current research was guided by a

constructionist epistemological standpoint. Meaning and knowledge are produced and sustained by social interactions, and within social contexts, rather being innate and entirely subjective within individuals (Burr, 1995; 2003). The social

constructionist approach has been increasingly used over recent years, highlighting that analysis and theory generation is affected by the researcher’s interaction with the world and socio-cultural influences, which in turn influence their own

interpretations of yielded data (Burr, 2003). Therefore, thematic analysis conducted within this framework focuses on theorising socio-cultural contexts that provided the basis of an individual’s account, rather than exploring individual psychologies (Braun & Clark, 2006). Due to CSA being primarily a socio-cultural issue and influenced by socially constructed norms, especially for survivors of CSA, a social constructionist framework was considered to be the most appropriate

epistemological standpoint. Whilst this also holds true for mental health professionals, their beliefs are also guided and informed by professional norms.

The usefulness of thematic analysis lies in its ability to construct theories in an inductive, or ‘bottom up’ manner, similar to grounded theory (Braun & Clark, 2006; Frith & Gleeson, 2004). Analysis rigorously conducted in an inductive way means that the resultant themes are closely related to the raw data (Patton, 1990). Theoretically, an inductive approach to thematic analysis means the analysis is data driven, with resultant identified themes bearing little, or a different relationship to the question asked to the participant (Braun & Clark). Employing thematic analysis has been used previously by researchers investigating CSA, including its subjective effects on survivors (Breckenridge, 2006), disclosure of CSA experiences (Alaggia, 2010), and therapeutic issues faced by survivors (MacIntosh & Johnson, 2008). Due to the exploratory nature of the current study, thematic analysis conducted in this manner was considered the most appropriate approach. Employing this approach was thought to provide an opportunity to build upon existing knowledge about the needs and experiences of CSA survivors, as well as potentially discover

unanticipated and under-researched concepts.