Qualitative methods for studying psychotherapy change processes

It is my hope in this chapter to encourage the use of a broader range of options for qualitative data collection and analysis in psychotherapy change process research. To do this, I first briefly outline some of the epistemological issues associated with CPR. Then I briefly summarize two useful tools for collecting useful and interesting qualitative data about change processes. After this, I turn to an example of qualitative data analysis methods appropriate to CPR

Qualitative Analysis of String Cosmologies

A qualitative analysis is presented for spatially flat, isotropic and homogeneous cosmologies derived from the string effective action when the combined effects of a dilaton, modulus, two-form potential and central charge deficit are included. The latter has significant effects on the qualitative dynamics. The analysis is also directly applicable to the anisotropic Bianchi type I cosmology.Comment: 13 pages, 4 postscript figures, accepted to Physical Review

Heteronormativity in Kindergarten Classrooms

Heteronormativity is the belief that people fall into distinct and complementary genders with natural roles in life. The idea is that the culture within elementary schools influences the children’s academic, behavioral, and psychological well-being. During this period of a child’s life, heteronormativity develops. The purpose of this research is to gain a greater understanding of the prevalence of heteronormativity in elementary school classrooms, specifically kindergarten. To understand this process, I will systematically observe classrooms within kindergarten. The methodological approach of this research will include both qualitative and quantitative analysis, specifically interviews with teachers and content analysis of the classroom environment. Teaches within these ages are constantly decorating their classroom environment in ways that shows students’ normative behaviors. We want to take these behaviors and subdivide them into those that meet a typical boy behavior and a typical girl behavior. Guided by relevant research, I will construct a list of examples as well as interview questions for the teachers of what I believe would prevail heteronormativity. While observing the classroom environment I will better understand the qualitative and quantitative aspects of heteronormativity. After observation, I believe the results I discover will determine just how prevalent heteronormativity is among elementary school classrooms

“I am a Runner”: A qualitative analysis of women-runners’ pregnancy experiences

Background Women runners are a group with potential for health maintenance and health promotion in pregnancy. When providers counsel women to discontinue or cut back on running without cause, an opportunity for health benefits to both woman and baby may be lost. Aim This study aims to explicate the experience women runners have in pregnancy to further providers’ understanding of this population’s unique needs. Methods An online, qualitative inquiry was employed to explore the experiences of an online community of women runners in pregnancy (N = 22). The Doing Pregnancy framework provided guidance for final stages of the analysis. Findings Four themes emerged, explicating a process for “Doing Pregnancy” as a woman-runner: (1) I am a runner; (2) running tunes me into my pregnant body; (3) adjusting to pregnancy’s changes; and (4) trusting my instincts & knowledge vs. listening to others. Discussion Women’s sense of embodiment caused them to feel strongly tuned into the needs of their maternal-fetal dyad and to trust that they knew what was healthy regarding running during pregnancy. When provider advice was conflicting or was not evidence-based, women lost trust in their providers. Conclusion Providers caring for women runners should recognize running as a key piece of their identities and enter into shared partnership as women navigate changes in pregnancy. Women have a strong sense of embodiment and are tuned into the needs of their body as well as the needs of their baby

Qualitative Environmental Health Research: An Analysis of the Literature, 1991-2008

BACKGROUND. Recent articles have advocated for the use of qualitative methods in environmental health research. Qualitative research uses nonnumeric data to understand people's opinions, motives, understanding, and beliefs about events or phenomena. OBJECTIVE. In this analysis of the literature, I report the use of qualitative methods and data in the study of the relationship between environmental exposures and human health. DATA SOURCES. A primary search on ISI Web of Knowledge/Web of Science for peer-reviewed journal articles dated from 1991 through 2008 included the following three terms: qualitative, environ*, and health. Inclusion and exclusion criteria are described. DATA EXTRACTION. Searches resulted in 3,155 records. Data were extracted and findings of articles analyzed to determine where and by whom qualitative environmental health research is conducted and published, the types of methods and analyses used in qualitative studies of environmental health, and the types of information qualitative data contribute to environmental health. DATA SYNTHESIS. Ninety-one articles met inclusion criteria. These articles were published in 58 different journals, with a maximum of eight for a single journal. The results highlight a diversity of disciplines and techniques among researchers who used qualitative methods to study environmental health, with most studies relying on one-on-one interviews. Details of the analyses were absent from a large number of studies. Nearly all of the studies identified increased scientific understanding of lay perceptions of environmental health exposures. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS. Qualitative data are published in traditionally quantitative environmental health studies to a limited extent. However, this analysis demonstrates the potential of qualitative data to improve understanding of complex exposure pathways, including the influence of social factors on environmental health, and health outcomes.National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (R25 ES012084, P42ES007381

Strong excitation of emitters in an impedance matched cavity: the area theorem, \pi-pulse and self-induced transparency

I theoretically study the behavior of strong pulses exciting emitters inside a cavity. The ensemble is supposed to be inhomogeneously broadened and the cavity matched finding application in quantum storage of optical or RF photons. My analysis is based on energy and pulse area conservation rules predicting important distortions for specific areas. It is well supported by numerical simulations. I propose a qualitative interpretation in terms of slow-light. The analogy with the free space situation is remarkable

Beautiful Disease: The Story of Angelina Jolie’s Mastectomy in the American Media

In 2013 Angelina Jolie revealed in a New York Times editorial that she underwent a preventive double mastectomy earlier that year. This qualitative study examines the social meaning of that Times piece. Using fantasy theme analysis, I unearth the story the American media told about Jolie, her surgery and her editorial. I find that newspapers and magazines dramatized Jolie’s gender traits and portrayed her as an ultra-feminine hero protected from the physical and social threats of breast cancer