Q Methodology and a Delphi Poll: A Useful Approach to Researching a Narrative Approach to Therapy

Abstract

Q methodology and a Delphi poll combined qualitative and quantitative methods to explore definitions of White and Epston's (1990) narrative approach to therapy among a group of UK practitioners. A Delphi poll was used to generate statements about narrative therapy. The piloting of statements by the Delphi panel identified agreement about theoretical ideas underpinning narrative therapy and certain key practices. A wider group of practitioners ranked the statements in a Q sort and made qualitative comments about their sorting. Quantitative methods (principal components analysis) were used to extract eight accounts of narrative therapy, five of which are qualitatively analysed in this paper. Agreement and differences were identified across a range of issues, including the social construction of narratives, privileging a political stance or narrative techniques and the relationship with other therapies, specifically systemic psychotherapy. Q methodology, combined with the Delphi poll, was a unique and innovative feature of this study.

Keywords:

• critical psychology
• Delphi poll
• narrative therapy
• Q methodology
• qualitative methods
• Q sorting
• Q statements
• social constructionism
• systemic psychotherapy

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all who participated in this study and particularly the Delphi panel members (alphabetically): Rudi Dallos, Hugh Fox, David Harper, Mark Hayward, Judith Lask, Karen Partridge, Martin Payne and David Spellman.

I acknowledge Michael White (1948–2008) for his inspirational therapeutic work.