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Using Hermeneutics To Understand Burnout And Coping Strategies Utilized By Occupational Therapists, Sangeeta Gupta, Margo Paterson, Claudia Von Zweck, Rosemary Lysaght Dec 2012

Using Hermeneutics To Understand Burnout And Coping Strategies Utilized By Occupational Therapists, Sangeeta Gupta, Margo Paterson, Claudia Von Zweck, Rosemary Lysaght

The Qualitative Report

This research article explores the use of the hermeneutic approach in understanding practice challenges for occupational therapists in the contemporary health care arena. It provides insights into factors that lead to therapist burnout and the strategies they utilize to maintain competent practice. In this mixed methods study, hermeneutics was chosen as the qualitative approach to help understand the meanings occupational therapists ascribe to stressful situations at work and how they cope with those situations. Data was collected by conducting focus groups and semi-structured interviews with seven participants. Demands on time, conflict, lack of respect and autonomy emerged as the main …


Lived Experiences Of Diversity Visa Lottery Immigrants In The United States, Tekleab Elos Hailu, Bernadette M. Mendoza, Maria K.E. Lahman, Veronica M. Richard Dec 2012

Lived Experiences Of Diversity Visa Lottery Immigrants In The United States, Tekleab Elos Hailu, Bernadette M. Mendoza, Maria K.E. Lahman, Veronica M. Richard

The Qualitative Report

Every year approximately 50,000 people immigrate to the United States through the avenue referred to as the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery. In this article, the authors present a literature review of immigration to the U.S. through the DV Lottery, reflect on their own immigration histories, and utilize phenomenology to investigate and describe participant feelings, expectations, and experiences as DV Lottery immigrants. Participants experienced mixed feelings, including high expectations prior to and difficulties after immigrating to the U.S. Findings presented include (a) life experienced in the U.S.; (b) access to learning and training opportunities; and (c) recommended support future DV Lottery …


Adolescent Dating Violence Prevention And Intervention In A Community Setting: Perspectives Of Young Adults And Professionals, Donna S. Martsolf, Crystal Colbert, Claire B. Drauker Dec 2012

Adolescent Dating Violence Prevention And Intervention In A Community Setting: Perspectives Of Young Adults And Professionals, Donna S. Martsolf, Crystal Colbert, Claire B. Drauker

The Qualitative Report

Adolescent dating violence (ADV) is a significant community problem. In this study, we examine the perspectives of two groups (young adults who experienced ADV as teens and professionals who work with teens) on ADV prevention/intervention in a community context. We interviewed 88 young adults and 20 professionals. Our research team used Thorne’s (2008) interpretive description methods to determine participants’ perspectives on community views on ADV, community ADV prevention/intervention programs, and ideal ADV prevention/intervention strategies. Participants perceived most communities as being blind to ADV. They perceived prevention programs as unavailable, inappropriate, or impersonal. Young adults indicated that professionals should use a …


Teachers’ Perceptions Of A Multiple High-Risk Behavior Prevention Program And Delivery Of Universal Programming, Crystal Collier, Richard C. Henriksen Jr. Dec 2012

Teachers’ Perceptions Of A Multiple High-Risk Behavior Prevention Program And Delivery Of Universal Programming, Crystal Collier, Richard C. Henriksen Jr.

The Qualitative Report

Much of the success of high-risk behavior prevention programs rests with teachers who deliver the curriculum however; few studies have investigated teachers' perceptions of program implementation. The objective of this phenomenological study was to answer the question, “What are the experiences of teachers who are asked to be involved in the implementation process when their school adopts a multiple high-risk behavior prevention program”? Participants included 10 teachers at a local, private high school in the Southern United States. Five themes emerged: (a) lack of consistent historical effort, (b) need for program, (c) positive but tentative perceptions, (d) challenges with implementation, …


Enabling Outcomes For Students With Developmental Disabilities Through Collaborative Consultation, Michelle Villeneuve, Nancy L. Hutchinson Dec 2012

Enabling Outcomes For Students With Developmental Disabilities Through Collaborative Consultation, Michelle Villeneuve, Nancy L. Hutchinson

The Qualitative Report

Collaborative consultation has been widely adopted in school-based occupational therapy practice; however, limited research has examined how collaboration between educators and occupational therapists contributes to students’ outcomes. The purpose of this study was to describe the nature of collaborative working in two cases of school-based occupational therapy service delivery. This paper reports a cross-case analysis, comparing findings about the nature of a joint effort in each case study to identify workplace practices that facilitated educator-occupational therapist collaboration. Ethnographic case study methods (Stake, 1995; Wolcott, 2008) and socio-cultural activity theory (SCAT; Engeström, 2001) were used to examine multiple perspectives concerning school-based …


Shared Journaling As Peer Support In Teaching Qualitative Research Methods, Aine M. Humble, Elizabeth Sharp Nov 2012

Shared Journaling As Peer Support In Teaching Qualitative Research Methods, Aine M. Humble, Elizabeth Sharp

The Qualitative Report

Teaching qualitative research methods (QRM), particularly early on in one’s academic career, can be challenging. This paper describes shared peer journaling as one way in which to cope with challenges such as complex debates in the field and student resistance to interpretive paradigms. Literature on teaching QRM and the pedagogical value of journaling for metacognition are reviewed. The two authors describe key points about their teaching contexts and then demonstrate with journal excerpts how they developed (a) clarity, (b) confidence, and (c) connection through two years of co-creating their journal. The article concludes with recommendations for shared journal writing as …


Women In Transition: A Qualitative Analysis Of Definitions Of Poverty And Success, Crystale M. Marsh-Mcdonald, Sybil Schroeder Nov 2012

Women In Transition: A Qualitative Analysis Of Definitions Of Poverty And Success, Crystale M. Marsh-Mcdonald, Sybil Schroeder

The Qualitative Report

A phenomenological approach examined the stories of ten women transitioning from childhood poverty to adult life. Women were chosen from a pool of participants in an Upward Bound program designed to assist low-income and/or first-generation college students in the Midwestern United States. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to retrospectively explore their lived experiences. Recurring themes included facilitators of change, specifically the people, including mental health professionals, family members, romantic partners, and friends who helped make change possible. Another frequent theme found in the research was the impact an education had on the participants. Finally, the participants shared their own insights related …


African American Women: The Face Of Hiv/Aids In Washington, Dc, Ndidiamaka N. Amutah Nov 2012

African American Women: The Face Of Hiv/Aids In Washington, Dc, Ndidiamaka N. Amutah

The Qualitative Report

In 2007, the estimated HIV and AIDS case rates among adult and adolescent African-American females in the United States was 60.6 per 100,000, as compared to 3.3 per 100,000 for adult and adolescent white American females. Women living with HIV or AIDS often face complex social problems that may inhibit them from accessing resources and healthcare services to assist them in coping with the disease. In-depth interviews and direct observations utilizing open-ended note taking were conducted at an HIV service provider’s office to determine the unique needs that develop because of these complex social issues, specifically among HIV positive women …


Fostering Change In Organizational Culture Using A Critical Ethnographic Approach, Rosemary A. Brander, Margo Patterson, Yolande E. Chan Nov 2012

Fostering Change In Organizational Culture Using A Critical Ethnographic Approach, Rosemary A. Brander, Margo Patterson, Yolande E. Chan

The Qualitative Report

Healthcare organizations are striving to meet legislated and public expectations to include patients as equal partners in their care, and research is needed to guide successful implementation and outcomes. The current research examined the meaning of customer service as related to the culture of care relationships within a Canadian hospital in southeastern Ontario. The goals were to better understand these expectations, develop shared meanings and influence cultural change from the perspective of the organization’s employees about their interactions with patients, families and work colleagues, and to generate ideas and groundswell for change. An ethnographic approach within the critical research paradigm …


Interrelated Processes Toward Quality Of Life In Survivors Of Childhood Cancer: A Grounded Theory, Miranda Tsonis, Janette Mcdougall, Angela Mandich, Jennifer Irwin Nov 2012

Interrelated Processes Toward Quality Of Life In Survivors Of Childhood Cancer: A Grounded Theory, Miranda Tsonis, Janette Mcdougall, Angela Mandich, Jennifer Irwin

The Qualitative Report

Past research has not adequately addressed the quality of life (QOL) of survivors of childhood cancer. The purpose of this study was to understand how QOL is experienced for individuals who have survived childhood cancer. Specific research questions included: (a) How do childhood cancer survivors define the concept of QOL and (b) What processes do childhood cancer survivors go through regarding their QOL? Researchers used grounded theory to analyze in-depth interviews conducted with eight survivors. Survivors use a process of specific action strategies and intervening conditions to manage impacts and effects, resulting in life enjoyment, or good QOL. The identification …


Conversation With An Interpreter: Considerations For Cross-Language, Cross-Cultural Peacebuilding Research, Maureen P. Flaherty, Sonya Starkova Nov 2012

Conversation With An Interpreter: Considerations For Cross-Language, Cross-Cultural Peacebuilding Research, Maureen P. Flaherty, Sonya Starkova

Peace and Conflict Studies

The ongoing processes of peacebuilding involve dialogue (Lederach 1997) and co-discovery (Freire 1970), which can sometimes be facilitated through academy-initiated research. Qualitative research provides opportunities to move from a positivist approach to a more equal, participatory, interactive exploration that benefits all participants, including the researcher in a “co-production of knowledge” (Karnieli-Miller, Strier, and Pessach 2009 p. 279). Cross-cultural, cross-language research (where researchers and participants do not share the same language), with all its riches, brings particular challenges for all involved. Beyond the issues of power and perceived power in any kind of research (Sprague 2005), in cross-cultural and cross-language research, …


Understanding The Culture Of Ahiska Turks In Wheaton, Illinois: A Case Study, Omer Avci Oct 2012

Understanding The Culture Of Ahiska Turks In Wheaton, Illinois: A Case Study, Omer Avci

The Qualitative Report

This study focuses on the cultural characteristics of Ahiska Turks in Wheaton, Illinois in the United States. By trying to understand the culture of the participants, I sought to shed light on how the Ahiska Turks managed to cope with the hardship they experienced and yet preserved their ethnic identities. In this multicase study, I interviewed six male Ahiska Turks. As a result of my analyses, eight themes emerged: family, religion (i.e., Islam), language (i.e., Turkish), communal life, endogamy, authoritarianism, oppression against the preservation of culture and identity, and education for upward mobility. The Ahiska Turks’ agrarian way of life, …


Kitchen Stories: A Review, Dan Wulff, Sally St. George, Sandy Harper-Jaques, Lorne Jaques Oct 2012

Kitchen Stories: A Review, Dan Wulff, Sally St. George, Sandy Harper-Jaques, Lorne Jaques

The Qualitative Report

Using four voices, we created a movie review of Kitchen Stories, a Scandinavian movie ostensibly about a research project, but with layers of meaning extending beyond research into relationships, wider communities, and teaching. As friends and colleagues, our co-authored review/essay allowed each of us room to elaborate numerous themes that can inform and support a variety of researchers and practitioners. This writing also confirmed our belief that contemporary movies can be evocative learning devices for professionals.


The Lived Experience Of A Doctoral Student: The Process Of Learning And Becoming, Betina Callary, Penny Werthner, Pierre Trudel Oct 2012

The Lived Experience Of A Doctoral Student: The Process Of Learning And Becoming, Betina Callary, Penny Werthner, Pierre Trudel

The Qualitative Report

The PhD experience is often a transition from student to future faculty member, which involves considerable learning and development (Glaze, 2002; Hockey, 2004). Using a lifelong learning perspective (Jarvis, 2009), the purpose of this article is to explore, through a reflective self-study, my process of learning throughout the PhD degree. In this qualitative self-study, I kept a detailed personal, professional, and academic reflective journal over four years and used the journal entries as data to explore the process of learning. The results reveal my ‘process of becoming’, moving from a beginner PhD student to an aspiring professor and new mother. …


Self-Regulation Of A Chiropractic Association Through Participatory Action Research, Lorraine A. Sheppard, Anna Maria S. Jorgensen, Michael J. Crowe Oct 2012

Self-Regulation Of A Chiropractic Association Through Participatory Action Research, Lorraine A. Sheppard, Anna Maria S. Jorgensen, Michael J. Crowe

The Qualitative Report

Participatory action research (PAR) can be used in the health professions to redefine their roles. This study investigated a small health professional group, the members of The Chiropractic Association Singapore (TCAS), by using a PAR method; researchers and participants gained insights into the self-regulation of a health profession. A qualitative process using a theory-building approach and an action component was a practical way of developing self-regulation in a small professional group. This approach bridged the gap between practice and research with TCAS members fully engaged in the process of being critically reflective of their future roles in the local health …


Handling Interpretation And Representation In Multilingual Research: A Meta-Study Of Pragmatic Issues Resulting From The Use Of Multiple Languages In A Qualitative Information Systems Research Work, Ilse Baumgartner Oct 2012

Handling Interpretation And Representation In Multilingual Research: A Meta-Study Of Pragmatic Issues Resulting From The Use Of Multiple Languages In A Qualitative Information Systems Research Work, Ilse Baumgartner

The Qualitative Report

Although the number of multilingual qualitative research studies appears to be growing, investigations concerned with methodological issues arising from the use of several languages within a single research are still very scarce. Most of these seem to deal exclusively with issues related to the use of interpreters and translators in qualitative research (e.g., Temple & Edwards, 2002; Temple, Edwards & Alexander, 2006; Edwards, 1998; Temple & Young 2004). Methodological investigations going beyond pure translation dilemmas in qualitative research are, however, almost non-existent. The reason for this seems to be simple: the situation where the researcher possesses mother-tongue fluency in all …


Methodological Precision In Qualitative Research: Slavish Adherence Or “Following The Yellow Brick Road?”, John R. Cutcliffe, Henry G. Harder Oct 2012

Methodological Precision In Qualitative Research: Slavish Adherence Or “Following The Yellow Brick Road?”, John R. Cutcliffe, Henry G. Harder

The Qualitative Report

Qualitative research has withstood many challenges on its way to becoming a credible research paradigm, though it remains the case that the paradigm contains ongoing methodological debates. One such debate is, for want of a better expression, the necessity for methodological precision (fundamentalism or purity). While it is accurate that research methodologies are somewhat fluid in that they are refined over time, it is equally correct that some researchers fall into a trap in claiming such fluidity is the reason for their imprecise use of a research methodology. Given that scientific knowledge is inextricably linked to the practice of method …


A Preliminary Qualitative Evaluation Of The Virginia Gold Quality Improvement Program, Gerald A. Craver, Amy K. Burkett Oct 2012

A Preliminary Qualitative Evaluation Of The Virginia Gold Quality Improvement Program, Gerald A. Craver, Amy K. Burkett

The Qualitative Report

Certified nursing assistants (CNAs) perform an important role in the long-term care system because they provide the majority of paid care to nursing facility residents. Unfortunately, annual CNA turnover often exceeds 100 percent nationally. Many factors account for this, including stressful working conditions, low pay, and limited benefits. The end result of high turnover is compromised continuity of care for residents, which often leads to poor quality and substandard care. In an effort to improve quality of care and staffing, the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services in 2009 implemented a pilot program, known as the Virginia Gold Quality Improvement …


Determining Cognitive And Non-Cognitive Predictors Of Success On The National Physical Therapy Examination, Carolyn Galleher, Peter J. Rundquist, David B. Barker, Wen-Pin Chang Oct 2012

Determining Cognitive And Non-Cognitive Predictors Of Success On The National Physical Therapy Examination, Carolyn Galleher, Peter J. Rundquist, David B. Barker, Wen-Pin Chang

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Background and Purpose: A variety of admission criteria have been utilized to assist in the selection of viable candidates in physical therapy programs. These criteria include cognitive measurements such as grade point average (GPA) and standardized test scores. However, only a few studies correlated these cognitive measurements to predicting success on the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE). The purpose of this study was to examine the performance of entry-level doctoral physical therapy (DPT) students on prior cognitive measurements and correlate it to passing on the first attempt of the NPTE. This study also aimed to determine if two inventory surveys …


Perceptions Of Feedback Among Undergraduate And Postgraduate Students Of Four Health Science Disciplines, Jenny Strong, Clair Hughes, Wayne Wilson, Wendy Arnott, Rosemary Isles, Anne Bennison Oct 2012

Perceptions Of Feedback Among Undergraduate And Postgraduate Students Of Four Health Science Disciplines, Jenny Strong, Clair Hughes, Wayne Wilson, Wendy Arnott, Rosemary Isles, Anne Bennison

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Feedback is an important support for student learning. Yet data suggests that some students are often under-whelmed with the feedback they receive. Two factors potentially influencing this perception are entry level and type of health science program. To investigate this further, 492 undergraduate and postgraduate students from four health science disciplines (occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech pathology and audiology) at a large Australian university were asked to complete a survey on the feedback that they had received during their studies. Students reported that they valued feedback with 93% seriously engaging with their feedback and 88% considering that feedback assisted their learning. …


The Mismatch Between Perceived And Preferred Expectations Of Undergraduate Paramedic Students, Brett Williams, Ted Brown, Christian Winship Oct 2012

The Mismatch Between Perceived And Preferred Expectations Of Undergraduate Paramedic Students, Brett Williams, Ted Brown, Christian Winship

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Background: Clinical education placements provide the opportunity for students to gain practical skills and apply theoretical knowledge not otherwise available in many instances. Objectives: This research explored how undergraduate paramedic students perceive their clinical placement learning environments. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study using a paper-based survey, the Clinical Learning Environment Inventory (CLEI), was conducted on undergraduate paramedic students studying at a large Australian university in semester 1, 2010. A total of 190 students were invited to participate in the survey. The CLEI is a standardised tool that contains 84-items and six subscales. Findings: Sixty students completed the CLEI (31% response …


An Exploration Of Health Science And Nursing Students’ Knowledge And Behaviors Related To Alcohol: A Preliminary Investigation, David M. Baker, Susan Stockton Oct 2012

An Exploration Of Health Science And Nursing Students’ Knowledge And Behaviors Related To Alcohol: A Preliminary Investigation, David M. Baker, Susan Stockton

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: To assess health science and nursing students Method: A descriptive exploratory design with survey methodology was used to carry out the study. The participants were a convenient sample of 154 undergraduate health science and nursing majors enrolled in twelve Midwestern Universities. The Alcohol Questionnaire was used to elicit information from participants. The Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated using knowledge about alcoholic beverages with Results: The results respectively were r = 0.17, p=0.0167, which implies that more knowledge was associated with more drinking; r = -0.12, p=0.0125, which implies that more knowledge was associated with drinking less often and r …


An Instrument For Assessing Communication Skills Of Healthcare And Human Services Students, James Johnston, Laura Fidelia, Kim W. Robinson, Jeffrey B. Killion, Phyllis Behrens Oct 2012

An Instrument For Assessing Communication Skills Of Healthcare And Human Services Students, James Johnston, Laura Fidelia, Kim W. Robinson, Jeffrey B. Killion, Phyllis Behrens

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

This manuscript reports on the original research that developed and tested an instrument to quantify basic communication skills of students in healthcare and human service education programs. Potential uses of this instrument include its use as a pre- and post-test assessment of instruction intended to improve communication skills and/or as another criteria for admission into healthcare and human service education programs. Results of this study indicate that the instrument has value in assessing communication skills.


Stroke Clinicians’ Priorities For Stroke Research, Natasha Lannin, Louise Ada, Richard Lidney, Mark Longworth, Annie Mccluskey, Sandy Middleton Oct 2012

Stroke Clinicians’ Priorities For Stroke Research, Natasha Lannin, Louise Ada, Richard Lidney, Mark Longworth, Annie Mccluskey, Sandy Middleton

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify research questions perceived as important by clinicians who treat stroke survivors in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Methods: A cross-sectional, 3-round Delphi survey method was used. Participants invited to respond in Round I included stroke researchers (n=26); Rounds II and III included stroke clinicians (n=470) identified from NSW Health Stroke Services and/or NSW Rural Stroke Service databases. Participants in Round I were asked to identify stroke research questions of the highest priority; participants in Rounds II and III then rated these research questions on both importance and feasibility using a 5-point …


Caregiving: A Qualitative Concept Analysis, Melinda Hermanns, Beth Mastel-Smith Sep 2012

Caregiving: A Qualitative Concept Analysis, Melinda Hermanns, Beth Mastel-Smith

The Qualitative Report

A common definition of caregiving does not exist. In an attempt to define the concept of caregiving, the authors used a hybrid qualitative model of concept development to analyze caregiving. The model consists of three phases: (a) theoretical, (b) fieldwork, and (c) analytical. The theoretical phase involves conducting an interdisciplinary literature search, examining existing definitions, and developing a working definition of caregiving. In the fieldwork phase, six participants were interviewed using a structured interview guide. Qualitative data analysis led to the development of two overarching themes: Holistic Care and Someone in Need of Help. Responses from participants were compared to …


Corporate Social Responsibility: Case Study Of Community Expectations And The Administrative Systems, Niger Delta, David Ogula Sep 2012

Corporate Social Responsibility: Case Study Of Community Expectations And The Administrative Systems, Niger Delta, David Ogula

The Qualitative Report

Poor community-company relations in the Niger Delta have drawn attention to the practice of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the region. Since the 1960s, transnational oil corporations operating in the Niger Delta have adopted various CSR strategies, yet community-company relations remain adversarial. This article examines community expectations of CSR and the influence of the traditional, political, and administrative systems on community expectations of CSR in the Niger Delta region. An overview of CSR, oil industry CSR practices in the Niger Delta, and the methodology used is presented. The findings show that community expectations were framed through the lens of underdevelopment …


Life Lived Well: A Description Of Wellness Across The Lifespan Of A Senior Woman, Whitney L. Jarnagin, Marianne Woodside Sep 2012

Life Lived Well: A Description Of Wellness Across The Lifespan Of A Senior Woman, Whitney L. Jarnagin, Marianne Woodside

The Qualitative Report

The concept of wellness provides a positive view of life development that can support psychological support and counseling. There is little in the literature about wellness and seniors, especially women. This study describes one senior woman’s wellness across the life span by addressing two research questions: (a) What are the experiences of one woman’s wellness across the life span as analyzed through the lens of the Indivisible Self (Myers & Sweeney, 2004, 2005) model of wellness; and (b) What experiences does one woman describe related to the model’s second order factors: the Creative Self; the Coping Self; the Social Self; …


Whose Story Is It? An Autoethnography Concerning Narrative Identity, Alec J. Grant, Laetitia Zeeman Sep 2012

Whose Story Is It? An Autoethnography Concerning Narrative Identity, Alec J. Grant, Laetitia Zeeman

The Qualitative Report

This paper is divided into three parts, each separated by centrally spaced asterisks. The first part, co-written on the basis of the standpoint interests of both authors, outlines the historical, philosophical, theoretical and methodological contexts for the use of autoethnographic short stories in the social and human sciences. The functions and representational practices of this genre are reviewed and discussed, and the main criticisms leveled by its detractors responded to. This sets the scene for the second part of the paper, an autoethnographic short story. Effectively a story of stories, it was constructed directly from the first author’s memories of …


Ouch! Recruitment Of Overweight And Obese Adolescent Boys For Qualitative Research, Zachary Morrison, David Gregory, Steven Thibodeau, Jennifer Copeland Aug 2012

Ouch! Recruitment Of Overweight And Obese Adolescent Boys For Qualitative Research, Zachary Morrison, David Gregory, Steven Thibodeau, Jennifer Copeland

The Qualitative Report

The purpose of this study is to examine the complexities of recruiting overweight and obese adolescent boys for qualitative research, discuss specific recruitment considerations for this population, and offer guidance to researchers interested in recruiting overweight adolescent boys. Three overweight adolescent boys and six community professionals participated in this study. Data collection methods included fieldwork observations (60 hours) and person-centered interviews (N=9). Emergent themes revealed that establishing trust, understanding the sensitivities of discussing obesity, and considering adolescent boys’ fears of sharing personal information may have enhanced recruitment success. Researchers should consider the importance of building relationships with professionals who can …


My Sister, Our Stories: Exploring The Lived Experience Of School Leavers Through Narrative And Poetics, C. Amelia Davis, Jennifer L. Pepperell Jul 2012

My Sister, Our Stories: Exploring The Lived Experience Of School Leavers Through Narrative And Poetics, C. Amelia Davis, Jennifer L. Pepperell

The Qualitative Report

The purpose of this study was to explore the educational experiences of two adult female siblings who are both school leavers. Through the use of thematic narrative analysis, sibling narratives and poetic re-presentations, their stories were developed. These stories represent the participants’ experiences of prior schooling and their current commitments to education. While each story conveyed a profound similarity in terms of prior schooling, contrasting narratives were illustrated through description of transitional moments and sibling relationship. The analysis also explored the intersections of race, gender, and social class within educative moments of the life experiences of the participants.