Maria Douka Fifth Annual Regional Social Work PhD Seminar ‘Doing Social Work Research’ Sheffield, 4 th July 2014

 Definition  Use of vignettes  Vignettes in the context of GT  Examples  Limitations of vignettes  Conclusion 2

Vignettes are heavily abbreviated case studies of a hypothetical nature They describe a situation in which participants have to build up their answers 3

 To break the ice between the researcher and the participant  To tap into the participants’ thoughts and feelings  To stimulate the discussion and maximise participants’ ability to provide information  To describe situations that happen in the respondent’s personal/working lives  To establish ways to pool information in a diverse research topic 4

 As a method to keep participants more focused on the subject  The R avoids asking leading questions  The R avoids passive behaviour of participants  The R avoids suspicions that the researcher covertly conducting a regulatory inspection 5

 As a technique to study sensitive situations  As a way to express personal opinions of subjects that are considered too difficult for direct answers  As a method when participants have no direct experience and knowledge of the area of study 6

Title of my research project: ‘Continuity of Care for People with Mental Health Problems: The role of Social Workers’ Methodology: Grounded Theory Methods: Vignettes and semi- structure interviews Participants: Social Workers Research carried out in Greece 7

Reasons to use vignettes:  Lack of knowledge or theoretical background on CoC of social workers  Providing critique on policy issues e.g. Psychiatric reforms under the financial crisis 8

Related research articles: a. Long-Sutehall, Willis H., Palmer R., Ugboma D., Addington-Hall J., Coombs M., (2011), Negotiated dying: A grounded theory of how nurses shape withdrawal of treatment in hospital critical care units, International Journal of Nursing Studies, 48: The project was about the views of nurses on withdrawal of treatment for the dying patient b. Kennedy TJ, Regehr G, Currie R. and E., Ross-Baker G., Lingard L, (2009), Preserving professional credibility: grounded theory study of medical trainees’ requests for clinical support, British Medical Journal, available at: The need for clinical support, requested by medical trainees from their supervisors 9

 John is a 54-year-old man who lives alone. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia when he was young. He is currently hospitalised after a serious acute episode. He informed the social worker that he has no place to live as he has not paid the rent on his house for months, and that soon he will be homeless.  The social worker has to inform him about what care options are appropriate for him. 10

 What “type of care” should a social worker provide for this patient? OR  How you think a social worker would respond to this patients’ needs?  The “should” and “would” questions Asking indirect questions is a less threatening and intimidating approach for the respondents 11

 Participants may express their views in a “socially desirable” way  There is distance between the vignette and social reality  Actions and beliefs might be different from those described in the vignette 12

 Vignettes should not be used as a stand alone method but as a complementary method  Vignettes are less threatening approach to interviews  Vignettes can be used to pool sensitive information on a subject 13

Thank you! 14