Writing qualitative research — A gathering of selves

This paper is a reflection and discussion on the integration and personal development that may occur when we use ourselves in heuristic research, particularly in the process of writing. It focuses on my writing about a study I undertook with two of my ex‐clients who are brothers, and their journey towards healing, and on their experience of our counselling relationship as part of that journey. As their counsellor, and the main researcher, my story inevitably intermingles and overlaps with theirs. My ‘selves’ as woman, survivor, client, counsellor, researcher (and numerous other selves) and their selves as survivor, man, client and researcher (and many others) are impacted by the collaborative, experiential nature of the work. Issues faced in the writing of a book about the research (Etherington, 2000), such as self‐disclosure and reclaiming my voice, parallel many of my own issues as a client and my clients' issues.     

Greenpeace campaign case study — StopEsso

As some corporations begin to enjoy power and influence on a scale comparable with or even more extensive than governments, it is consumers rather than voters who are starting to hold the key to political and social change. Companies which fail to take consumer opinion into account face real threats to their brand image, and ultimately to their bottom line. This case study explores the Greenpeace‐led StopEsso campaign, detailing the campaign history, strategy and tactics, and assessing its impact so far. It shows how negative consumer perceptions of ExxonMobil (Esso), based around the issue of the company's approach to climate change, are damaging the company's interests and that the changing interactions of other key stakeholders with the company could also threaten Exxon's competitiveness. It concludes that as corporate power increases, so must corporate responsibility, for consumers are increasingly unwilling to accept dishonest or unfair behaviour, and increasingly willing to withdraw their financial support for companies which fail to respond to their expectations. Copyright © 2004 Henry Stewart Publications Ltd.     

A multivariate projection‐type analogue of the Wilcoxon — Mann — Whitney test

The problem of comparing two independent groups based on mulitivariate data is considered. Many such methods have been proposed, but it is difficult to gain a perspective on the extent to which the groups differ. The basic strategy here is to determine a robust measure of location for each group, project the data onto the line connecting these measures of location, and then compare the groups based on the ordering of the projected points. In the univariate case the method uses the same measure of effect size employed by the Wilcoxon — Mann — Whitney test. Under general conditions, the projected points are dependent, causing difficulties when testing hypotheses. Two methods are found to be effective when trying to avoid Type I error probabilities above the nominal level. The relative merits of the two methods are discussed. The projected data provide not only a useful (numerical) measure of effect size, but also a graphical indication of the extent to which groups differ.     

KOISK — A new vocational counselling instrument

The Keele Occupational Interest Sorting Kit is an alternative to traditional interest inventories. It is designed to be better adapted to a dynamic counselling situation. The nature of the kit is described, and its possible uses are outlined.     

Cross-Cultural Family Therapy — A Malaysian Experience

This case report illustrates the possibilities and difficulties of family therapy in a non-Western culture. Malaysia is a truly multiracial society with diverse ethnic groups having different religions, languages, and cutural patterns of relationships. In addition, the nation as a whole, and each ethnic group in particular, is in the process of cultural change, which produces stress on the traditional family's style of relationships. The therapists working in this culture are often crossing religious, linguistic, and socioeconomic barriers, as well as encountering the cultural pressures placed upon families. We will formulate some general problems in cross-cultural psychotherapy, discuss some aspects of this specific culture and family with a case report, and offer some suggestions for handling problems in family therapy under these circumstances.