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Using circular questions as a tool in qualitative research
Nicola Evans1, Steve Whitcombe1
1Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
Background:
Circular questions are used within systematic family therapy as a tool to generate multiple explanations and stories from a family situation and as a means to stimulate the curiosity of the therapist while avoiding their temptation to seek a one definitive explanation.
Aim:
To consider the potential for using this approach in qualitative research, with researchers using carefully crafted questions to invite respondents to provide information about the meanings behind a phenomenon or consider how relationships between people contribute to it.
Discussion:
Drawing on examples from a study into children's mental health services, this paper discusses the application of the technique of circular questioning from systemic family therapy to qualitative research.
Conclusion:
The use of circular questions is a technique that qualitative researchers could employ in the field when conducting interviews with individuals or groups, or when engaged in participant observation as a means to obtain rich sources of data.
Implications For Practice:
Circular questioning can help to promote curiosity in the researcher and invite responses that illuminate relational issues between participants in a study.
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