A qualitative analysis of John Bowlby’s last interview

John Bowlby gave his final interview on attachment theory over twenty five years ago to psychoanalyst Virginia Hunter, just a few months before his death. A qualitative analysis, specifically an inductive thematic analysis, has been applied to Bowlby’s last interview so as to gain some insight in a systematic and rigorous manner as to what the main issues in attachment theory were for Bowlby at that stage of his life and career. A main theme ‘Real Life Events’ emerged, comprised of three subthemes ‘Dismissal,’ ‘Recognition,’ and ‘Supporting Patients;’ each of these findings are discussed in turn. Although attachment theory has developed enormously over the past twenty five years since Bowlby’s death, his main concern on the significance of real life events remains salient; Bowlby’s legacy continues to live on strongly

“We’re both in the trenches together”: a pluralistic exploration of attachment behaviour dynamics in a heterosexual couple relationship across the transition to second-time parenthood

Attachment theory provides a framework for categorising behaviours in close relationships by individuals during times of stress. Attachment behaviours are commonly thought to be determined in early childhood experiences and assumed to hold through to adulthood. Further, these behaviours become particularly salient across life events, such as the transition to parenthood. Attachment styles range from security-based, in which individuals seek to alleviate distress by seeking and receiving proximity to an attachment figure, to insecurity-based styles in which attachment figures are viewed as insufficiently available. These styles have been identified primarily through the use of quantitative methods. However, this risks reducing the intricacy of relational behaviours to discrete and exclusive styles. The use of qualitative methods offers one way to preserve the complexity of relational experiences but there are a limited amount of studies which use this approach. The use of pluralistic qualitative methods allows for more holistic insight by viewing the complexities of attachment from multi-dimensional perspectives and is the methodological focus of this study. The research presents a longitudinal single case study which explores the attachment behaviours of a couple during their transition to second-time parenthood. It uses multiple methods of data collection, including individual semi-structured interviews to gather accounts of experience, diaries to gather accounts of everyday practices and behaviours, and joint unstructured interviews to gather collaborative accounts of the couple relationship. Narrative analysis is used to understand how identities are formed and reformed over the longitudinal period, and gives insight to how the participants make sense of their feelings and emotions. A psycho-social reading of the data enables understanding of some of the internal and external conflicts that the participants negotiate during this period. The plurality of epistemological and ontological paradigms brought by the different methods highlights the complex variation and intricate manners in which the couple’s emotion regulation strategies affect the dynamics of their relationship. Key findings of the research illustrate that individuals engage with a variety of attachment behaviours at any given point suggesting that attachment is not a fixed feature; attachment history becomes more salient after the transition to second-time parenthood; insecure attachment behaviours (mainly avoidant ones) tend to be more marked; relationship satisfaction decreases following the birth of the second child; and the parenting relationship becomes the couple relationship after the birth of the second child. The research shows how pluralistic methods challenge traditional views of attachment as fixed and brings new insight to relational experiences by considering them as fluid and dynamic processes, informed by context, subjective meaning-making and external events across the transition to second-time parenthood

Qualitatively-driven mixed methods approaches to counselling and psychotherapy research

Many researchers and clinicians take an ‘either, or’ position regarding factors responsible for change when conducting research. Qualitatively-driven mixed methods privilege the qualitative approach and offers the opportunity to generate multi-dimensional material, permitting a more holistic insight into experiences that can be understood from a combination of epistemological and ontological stances. A qualitatively-driven mixed methods applies a ‘both, and’ position when exploring the elements that produce change or that are under investigation, which can be of particular value to counselling and psychotherapy research. There are various ways of engaging with qualitatively-driven mixed methods. Some designs include both qualitative and quantitative components, where the former is the core element. The secondary component may also be qualitative, known as a multimethod design. Yet other designs mix different qualitative approaches, through the application of different qualitative analyses to the same data (pluralistic qualitative research). This paper discusses the application and value of qualitatively-driven mixed methods in counselling and psychotherapy research through the presentation of two research case studies; one which mixes both qualitative and quantitative components to investigate the experiences of pain alleviation following a CBT pain management programme; and one which applies a pluralistic approach to a counselling psychology doctorate exploring the experiences and meanings attached to self-harming. Through illustration and discussion of the case studies’ mixed methods approaches, this paper demonstrates that qualitatively-driven mixed methods produce a more enhanced and holistic understanding into phenomena, and therefore a more balanced perspective to counselling and psychotherapy research

“And it was all my choice but it didn’t feel like a choice”: a re-examination of interpretation of data using a ‘rhetoric of choice’ lens

This research aims to re-examine interpretations of data collected from second-time 2 mothers about their experiences of becoming a mother to a second child using lenses of 3 rhetoric of choice and choice feminism. The interpretations are reconsidered to identify 4 ways in which tensions between maternal status and researcher positionality have 5 influenced the ways they were reached. The paper describes two studies, each conducted 6 by one of the authors, and the interpretations of the data made at the time the research 7 was carried out. It discusses alternative interpretations and how they challenge both the 8 researcher role and theoretical explanations of gender inequity and attachment. The paper 9 concludes that feminist research can be strengthened by attending to the intersections 10 between maternal status, and positioning as feminist, woman and researche

Multimodality, visual methods and lived experience

View from the Top from Prof Paula Reavey Paula Reavey is Professor of Psychology and Mental Health at London South Bank University. This interview took place at the Qualitative Methods in Psychology (QMiP) and History & Philosophy of Psychology (HPP) joint 2019 conference at Cardiff Metropolitan University where Paula led a workshop on visual methods and delivered a keynote speech. Best known for her pathbreaking work on visual methods and multimodality (Reavey, 2011), she has also distinguished herself with her innovative interdisciplinary work in the field of mental health, space and embodiment. Susanne Langer (Senior Lecturer in Psychology, MMU) and Deborah Bailey-Rodriguez (Lecturer in Psychology, Middlesex University), who are both associate editors of the QMiP Bulletin, asked the questions

The application of a qualitative approach to adult attachment research: a short report

A qualitative pluralistic exploration of a couple relationship across the transition to second-time parenthood. This short article reports on the female partner during the pregnancy phase. It reports on her attachment history using BNIM and reports on her pregnancy phase using narrative analysis

Research-active therapists and therapy trainees: The need for continuity and clinical significance in our research

Mick Cooper is Professor of Counselling Psychology, as well as Acting Director of the Centre for Research in Psychological Wellbeing (CREW) at the University of Roehampton. Aside from being a research-active practitioner, with research interests in counselling with children and young people as well as humanistic, existential and relational approaches to therapy, Mick is co-developer of the pluralistic approach to therapeutic practice. He has published numerous research articles and texts including his latest book ‘Psychology at the Heart of Social Change: Developing a Progressive Vision for Society’. Mick kindly agreed to be interviewed by two of our editors (Deborah Bailey-Rodriguez & Eva Fragkiadaki) to discuss qualitative research within psychotherapy and counselling research, his own research journey as a therapist and to give us tips and pointers for therapy trainees and bridging the gap between research and therapeutic practice for our Special Issue

A qualitatively driven approach to multimethod and mixed methods research

This chapter discusses the meaning of qualitatively -driven inquiry and what this is in the context of mixed and multi methods research. It distinguishes between qualitatively-driven mixed and multi methods approaches and considers why methods may be mixed using a qualitatively-driven approach. The chapter identifies some reasons for using qualitatively-driven mixed and multi method approaches and defines templates for their application. The chapter provides several research examples throughout to illustrate the insight gained with these approaches. It concludes with in-depth discussions of the value of these approaches and considers their contribution more widely to the field of mixed-methods researc

A Delphi study to strengthen research methods training in undergraduate psychology programmes

Psychology programmes often emphasise inferential statistical tests over a solid understanding of data and research design. This imbalance may leave graduates under-equipped to effectively interpret research and employ data to answer questions. We conducted a two-round modified-Delphi to identify the research methods skills that the UK psychology community deems essential for undergraduates to learn. Participants included 103 research methods instructors, academics, students, and non-academic psychologists. Of 78 items included in the consensus process, 34 reached consensus. We coupled these results with a qualitative analysis of 707 open-ended text responses to develop nine recommendations for organisations that accredit undergraduate psychology programmes—such as the British Psychological Society (BPS). We recommend that accreditation standards emphasise (1) dataskills, (2) research design, (3) descriptive statistics, (4) critical analysis, (5) qualitative methods, and (6) both parameter estimation and significance testing; as well as (7) give precedence to foundational skills, (8) promote transferable skills, and (9) create space in curricula to enable these recommendations. Our data and findings can inform modernised accreditation standards to include clearly-defined, assessable, and widely-encouraged skills that foster a competent graduate body for the contemporary world

The moderation effect of secure attachment on the relationship between positive events and wellbeing

Positive events can reduce depression as well as enhance wellbeing. The role of secure attachment style in moderating the relationship between positive events and wellbeing is examined to further understand wellbeing models. Participants (n = 490) included two midlife groups and a student group from the UK. They completed the online Computerised Life Event Assessment Record (CLEAR), a measure of life events, the Vulnerable Attachment Style Questionnaire (VASQ) and the Warwick Emotional Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS). Age was associated with higher rates of wellbeing and secure attachment style. A significant relationship was found between number of positive events and wellbeing, number of people close, and secure attachment score. Hierarchical multiple regression indicated a significant interaction between secure attachment style, number of positive life events and wellbeing. Simple slopes analysis demonstrated the association between positive life events and wellbeing was significant for secure attachment (B = 1.27, p = .003) but not insecure attachment (B = .04, n.s.). This suggests securely attached individuals are better able to take advantage of positive life events than insecurely attached individuals and experience a greater increase in wellbeing