The Naturalistic Paradigm as an Approach to Research with Mutual-Help Groups

“Nothing About Me, Without Me”: Participatory Action Research with Self‐Help/Mutual Aid Organizations for Psychiatric Consumer/Survivors

“…It is these assumptions/values, either implicit or explicit, which are the defining characteristics of the world view of a research or action approach. Like others (Borkman & Schubert, 1994;Chesler, 1991;Kennedy, Humphreys, & Borkman, 1994;Lavoie, 1984), we argue that the assumptions/values underlying participatory action research and self-help/mutual aid organizations are quite compatible, and thus that participatory action research is a good fit for the study of self-help/mutual aid organizations for psychiatric consumer/survivors. Both participatory action research and self-help/mutual aid organizations represent alternatives to conventional research and intervention.…”

A longitudinal study of mental health consumer/survivor initiatives: Part 1—Literature review and overview of the study

“…In addition to these quantitative studies, some researchers (e.g., Rappaport, 1993) have used a qualitative, narrative approach to the study of consumer-run organizations. For example, Kennedy and Humphreys (1994) found positive changes in the self, relationships with others, the universal order, and personal problems in a qualitative study of 30 members of two 12-step groups (including the GROW organization for people with mental illness). Similarly, in a qualitative study of 46 members of Schizophrenics Anonymous, Weaver Randall, Salem, and Reischl (2001) reported a process of recovery over time, including identity transformation and enhanced well-being and quality of life.…”

“…Qualitative data complement the quantitative data by providing much more depth regarding participants' life experiences and changes and by providing insights on the qualities of CSIs that were important for participants' growth. Other researchers have noted the value of using qualitative, naturalistic, and narrative methods for the study of members of self-help groups and organizations for people who have mental illness (Kennedy, Humphreys, & Borkman, 1994;Rappaport, 1993). More information on the quantitative and qualitative methods used to examine individual-level impacts is provided in Parts 2 and 3 of this set of articles.…”

A Fidelity Rating Instrument for Consumer-Run Drop-in Centers (FRI-CRDI)

“…(Test, 1998, p. 429). Consumer and nonconsumer authors have articulated the benefits of CRS, such as sharing similar life experiences and offering a different worldview to assist in making sense of experiences (Davidson, Chinman & Kloos, 1999); personal control (Salem, 1990) that counteracts typical feelings of powerlessness (Chamberlin & Rogers, 1990); offering choice (Connelly, Keels, Kleinback, Schnieder, & Cobb, 1993); promoting independence and competence, providing social support, and individualized services (Chamberlin, 1984); providing a unique and needed support that is more empathic, concrete, and relevant (Mowbray, 1997); offering role models and organizational involvement (through a flattened administrative hierarchy; Segal, Silverman, & Temkin, 1993); instilling hope (Kennedy, Humphreys, & Borkman, 1994) to facilitate recovery (Yanos, Primavera, & Knight, 2001); and working toward social justice and social change on behalf of individuals with serious mental illnesses (Chamberlin & Rogers, 1990;Segal et al, 1993). Policy and programmatic initiatives at state and federal levels have supported consumer involvement in service planning and provision; some have even mandated incorporation of CRS in mental health systems through programmatic recommendations and requirements (Von Tosh & Delvecchio, 1998).…”