The Narratives Which Connect…

The analyzing process

The analyzing processes have been perpetual in this research project. They started after the first interview, with the first participant, and went on until the thesis was finished. The Grounded Theory analyzing process and the Theme Analyses in this research are about comparing and contrasting, with the aim to construct and explore variation. The analyzing process can be illustrated as in this flow chart:

The Analyzing Flow Chart

GT open coding and analysis of first interview from Elisabeth. Pilot study. Writing memos.	Thematic analysis of video of a first FT session by Karen.
↓	↓
GT open coding and analysis of second interview from Elisabeth. Writing memos.	Comparing and contrasting first interview with the video of the first FT session. Preparing second interview with Karen.
↓	↓
Thematic analysis of video of a first FT session by Elisabeth. Writing memos.	GT open coding and analyzing of second interview with Karen. Comparing and contrasting with Elisabeth, Erik and Adam. Selecting the participant for parallel connections. Writing memos.
↓	↓
Comparing and contrasting first and second interview with the video of the first FT session. Preparing third interview. Writing memos.	Selecting more participants for parallel connections.
↓	↓
GT open coding and analyzing of third interview. Selecting the second participant.	Open coding and analyzing of Evelyn’s interview. Writing memos.
↓	↓
GT open coding and analysis of first interview from Erik. Writing memos.	Open coding and analyzing of Anne’s interview. Writing memos.
↓	↓
Thematic analysis of video of a first FT session by Erik.	Open coding and analyzing of Janne’s interview. Writing memos.
↓	↓
Comparing and contrasting first interview with the video of the first FT session. Preparing second interview with Erik. Writing memos.	Putting together the whole material GT axial coding
↓	↓
GT open coding and analyzing of second interview with Erik. Comparing and contrasting with Elisabeth. Selecting the third participant.	Bottom up analysis of all transcriptions from Elisabeth, Erik, Adam and Karen (nine interviews).
↓	↓
GT open coding and analysis of first interview from Adam.	Sorting open codes in piles with codes that are the same and that are closely related.
↓	↓
Thematic analysis of video of a first FT session by Adam. Writing memos.	Putting related piles into envelopes. Giving each envelope a long name that reflects the content.
↓	↓
GT comparing and contrasting first interview with the video of the first FT session. Preparing second interview with Adam.	Categories and sub categories emerged. Writing memos.
↓	↓
GT open coding and analyzing of second interview with Adam. Comparing and contrasting with Elisabeth and Erik. Selecting the fourth participant.	Top down analysis of transcripts from Evelyn, Anne and Janne (three interviews).
↓	↓
GT open coding and analysis of first interview from Karen. Writing memos.	New categories and several sub categories emerged. Writing memos.
	↓
	Constructing findings in thesis.

Table 5. The analyzing flow chart

The analysing process has been divided into two phases. The first analytic phase was closely connected to the process of recruiting participants and interviewing them. In addition, four videotaped therapy sessions were Theme Analysed and this analytic work established the background for each of the second interviews with the participants.

Theoretical sampling

”Theoretical sampling is important when exploring new or uncharted areas because it enables the researcher to choose those avenues of sampling that can bring about the greatest theoretical return” (Strauss and Corbin, 1998, p. 202). One criterion I have used in my sampling is variation. Initially open coding offers many different persons to be interviewed because I initially do not have any concepts that have proven theoretical relevance. That means that I initially do not know where to look for variation. However, as an experienced family therapist, teacher, and supervisor I know the family therapy field quite well. That includes both different ways of conducting therapy and many family therapists in Norway.

According to the criteria for sampling, I am not trying to find a representative group, rather, I am trying to reach theoretical saturation. However, I have used both women and men preferably of different ages, trained and experienced in systemic family therapy. On the other hand, criteria such as religion and socio-economic background are among those criteria I will not use. The participants might therefore differ or be alike when it comes to these dimensions. Norway is a rather homogeneous country and the family therapy group is rather small. With such few participants in my project, these criteria probably do not contribute with important information. It can however, be an area for further research.

I have looked for participants with different family backgrounds and experiences according to the developing grounded theory analysis, that is, experiences from divorce, death, alcohol abuse, and so on. These are all areas commonly dealt with in family therapy practice. These are criteria that vary much among therapists and that may influence their practice dependant on how their own experience with these areas has affected them.

Participants have been sampled separately. This helped me to keep anonymity and avoid identification of participants in the same way that might happen when they are recruited from the same workplace. My research will focus on the patterns that connect therapists’ own personal experience and life with their clinical family therapy practice. Discovery shall not only rest on videos and interview transcriptions but also on the Grounded Theory memos and participants’ reflections that are produced as a part of the research process. To maintain this, I have written a research diary informed by my contact with the participants and my own reflections from the research process. The diary contain everything from who I met, where we met, when we met, how the interview came about, my reflections afterwards, further plans and so on.

Initially open coding offers many opportunities for different participants to be interviewed because I do not have any concepts yet that have proven theoretical relevance. That means that I will look for variation as a part of the theoretical sampling process.

Variation among Participants

All participants in the project are Norwegian family therapists. One is also an inhabitant of a Middle-East country. As mentioned, they are two men and five women with experience as family therapists that span six to thirty-three years of family therapy practice.

It is, however, different types of experiences connected to patterns that links their clinical practice to their personal and private experience that have been a major source when looking for variation. This aim has been reached through the analytic process in theoretical sampling and the method of constant comparison. When I knew about what and “who” I was looking for next, I used my own knowledge from the field of family therapy in Norway and my colleagues to look for the next participant. Only one that was asked to participate refused to be a part of the research. She used a week to decide, and she said “no” without any further explanations.