Choice Points: Creating Clinical Qualitative Research Studies

Abstract

Today, more psychotherapists are seeing the utility of studying their own and others' therapeutic work. With the growing popularity and acceptance of qualitative methods, the research process takes on special significance for the clinician/researcher. Using qualitative methodologies, therapists can conduct studies that are immediately relevant to their therapeutic work. In this paper, I discuss eight decisions or "choice points" clinician/researchers face when conducting clinical qualitative research studies. The choices I discuss are not all inclusive, yet they are representative of the choices most clinical qualitative projects required.