Experiences Of Research Participants Research Articles

Building the Environment for Narrative Inquiry With Young People With Intellectual Disability

Narrative inquiry methods are central to qualitative research that seeks to understand phenomena through the lived experiences of research participants. This research used a form of narrative inquiry—storytelling, to invite four young people with intellectual disability referred to as the “story owners” to share their stories about sexuality and relationships. Through a reflexive approach, this article unpacks the relational and physical contexts that surrounded the narrative inquiry methods, which the researchers describe as the narrative environment. In this narrative environment, each story owner co-developed their story with an academic researcher. The research found that the key components of the narrative environment which were co-created somewhat differently by each story owner were space and place, objects, people, and relationships and communication. Take home messages provided in this research can assist novice researchers and co-researchers in their methodological approach to narrative research with people with intellectual disability.

Leading with understanding: cultivating positive relationships between neurotypical leaders and neurodivergent employees

PurposeNeurodivergent employees have atypical needs that require distinctive leadership approaches. In this study, the specific nature of a relationship between neurodivergent employees and their neurotypical leaders is explored through the lens of the leader–member exchange (LMX) theory.Design/methodology/approachThis two-phased qualitative study builds on 12 semi-structured interviews with neurodivergent employees and an unstructured focus group with 15 individuals with professional and/or personal interest in neurodiversity. The researcher spent almost 13 h listening to the lived experiences of research participants concerning neurodiversity and leadership.FindingsLeaders who exhibit empathy and understanding were noted to provide greater support. The findings also highlight the complexity of neuro-inclusion in the workplace. Specifically, the delicate balance between accommodation and avoiding stigmatization is emphasized, addressing the concerns raised regarding the legal risks associated with neurodivergent inclusion. Additionally, the findings underscore the necessity for leaders to avoid patronizing behaviors while catering to the diverse needs of neurodivergent employees. This underscores the importance of supporting both neurodivergent employees and leaders navigating such challenges.Practical implicationsThe findings help establish inclusive and accommodating employee relations practices that conscientiously address the requirements of neurodivergent employees while providing support for those in leadership roles.Originality/valueThis study constitutes a direct answer to recent calls to develop a more nuanced understanding of workplace neurodiversity, with a specific focus on neuro-inclusive leadership. Acknowledging that we still use inappropriate, old tools in new situations that require novel approaches to leadership helps set the agenda for future research in this area.

Motivations, Barriers, and Supports: An Examination of the Experiences of Women of Color Recreational Sport Coaches

Coaches play an instrumental role in the experiences of youth sport participants. Though girls participate in youth sport at similar rates as boys, coaching positions continue to be dominated by men. Existing research supports the value of diverse role models, especially for culturally diverse youth, and women coaches of color are especially important in sport given the low participation rates of ethnocultural minorities. Given the importance of diverse role models as sport coaches, this study investigates the experiences of women of color who coach sport at the recreational level. Based on interviews with 14 individuals, and grounded in socioecological theory, our findings describe the experience of research participants at each level (individual, interpersonal, organizational, and sociocultural) with a focus on the entry experience, barriers, and supports. Findings suggest that gendered and racial norms influence experiences across the model, and further lead to practical implications for sport managers.

How can we support research participants who stop taking part? Communications guidance developed through public-researcher collaboration.

Research study participants can stop taking part early, in various circumstances. Sometimes this experience can be stressful. Providing participants with the information they want or need when they stop could improve participants' experiences, and may benefit individual studies' objectives and research in general. A group of public contributors and researchers at the Clinical Trials Research Unit, University of Leeds, aimed to develop a communication template and researcher guidance. This would address how to provide information sensitively around the time when participants stop or significantly reduce their level of participation. The project lead used scoping review methods to identify relevant prior evidence and derive a list of potential information topics to communicate to participants who stop taking part. The topic list was reviewed by research professionals and public contributors before finalisation. Further public contributors were identified from a range of networks. The contributors formed a 'development group', to work on the detail of the planned resources, and a larger 'review group' to review the draft output before finalisation. The involvement was planned so that the development group could shape the direction and pace of the work. The literature review identified 413 relevant reports, resulting in 94 information topics. The review suggested that this issue has not been well explored previously. Some evidence suggested early-stopping participants are sometimes excluded from important communications (such as study results) without clear justification. The development group agreed early to focus on guidance with reusable examples rather than a template. We took time to explore different perspectives and made decisions by informal consensus. Review group feedback was broadly positive but highlighted the need to improve resource navigability, leading to its final online form. We co-developed a resource to provide support to research participants who stop taking part. A strength of this work is that several of the public contributors have direct lived experience of stopping research participation. We encourage others to review the resource and consider how they support these participants in their studies. Our work highlights the value of researchers and participants working together, including on complex and ethically challenging topics.

중등학교 예비 진로전담교사의 MSCI 참여경험과 학교적용방안 탐색

Objectives This study was conducted to explore the program participation experience and school field application methods of secondary school prospective career teachers who participated in My System of Career Influences (MSCI), one of the constructivist career counseling programs.
 Methods For these purposes, the MSCI program, which consists of 5 sessions of 90 minutes per session, was implemented as a group counseling method to secondary prospective career teachers, and the contents of the reflection journals submitted by 16 research participants after each session and the last session were analyzed using the CQR. The CQR is a method that inductively organizes and categorizes the statements made by research participants, and is an appropriate method for revealing the inner experiences of research participants that cannot be easily detected with quantitative methods.
 Results The research participants’ experience of participating in the MSCI program consisted of three categories such as ‘discovery and enlightenment’, ‘experience of ambivalence in group activities’, ‘learning constructivist career guidance and counseling methods’ and nine subcategories. MSCI’s school application plan consisted of two categories such as ‘Program modification and supplementation plan’ and ‘Application to school curriculum’ and six subcategories.
 Conclusions These results suggest that learning through the MSCI experience can help participating prospective career teachers gain confidence and specific application plans for implementing constructivist career counseling in school settings.

Perspectives of adult offspring of participants recruited to a randomised trial in pregnancy: a qualitative study

BackgroundRoutinely assessed outcomes in paediatric health studies may not reflect families’ priorities. Increasing our understanding of childhood experiences of research participation may contribute to improving the quality of consent and...

Experiences and Priorities in Youth and Family Mental Health: Protocol for an Arts-Based Priority-Setting Focus Group Study.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, eHealth services enabled providers to reach families despite widespread social distancing restrictions. However, their rapid adoption often occurred without community partners' involvement and without an understanding of how they prioritize aspects of their mental health and associated service provision, both of which promote family and community-centered health care delivery. Establishing priorities in health care is essential for developing meaningful and reliable health services. As such, there is an urgent need to understand how eHealth service users, especially families who may have historically faced oppression and systemic barriers to service access, can best benefit from them. Arts-based approaches can elicit an understanding of priorities by providing an engaging and expressive means of moving beyond readily expressible discursive language and stimulating meaningful dialogue reflective of participants' lived experiences. The purpose of this research is to determine the priorities and preferences of youth; parents or caregivers; newcomers and immigrants; and Indigenous community members regarding the use of eHealth in supporting their mental health using an innovative arts-based priority-setting method. This study uses a mixed-methods approach combining qualitative, quantitative, and arts-based research. It follows a survey used to identify key knowledge partners who are interested in improving eHealth services for mental health support in Manitoba, Canada. Knowledge partners interested in group-based priority setting will be contacted to participate. We will facilitate approximately two focus groups across each subgroup of youth, parents or caregivers, newcomers or immigrants, and Indigenous community members using an integrative, quantitatively anchored arts-based method termed the "Circle of Importance" to understand participants' mental health priorities and how eHealth or technology may support their mental well-being. The Circle of Importance involves placing small objects, whose meaning is determined by participants, on a visual board with concentric circles that correspond to a 5-point Likert scale of importance. Following each focus group, we will evaluate participants' and focus group facilitators' experiences of the Circle of Importance using a survey and follow-up structured in-person interviews to garner how we can improve the arts-based approach used in the focus groups. The PRIME (Partnering for Research Innovation in Mental Health through eHealth Excellence) theme received institutional ethics approval on August 23, 2023. Data collection is projected for August 2023, with follow-up focus groups occurring in early 2024 as required. Data analysis will occur immediately following data collection. Findings will directly inform a multiyear applied research agenda for PRIME aimed at improving mental health services through engaging key knowledge partners. The results may inform how arts-based methods in a priority setting can reflect aspects of experience beyond the capacities of qualitative or quantitative methods alone, and whether this approach aligns well with a positive experience of research participation. PRR1-10.2196/50208.

Комітети монетарної політики в умовах спалаху пандемії коронавірусу

Introduction. In conditions of systemic shocks, such as the coronavirus pandemic, monetary policy decision-making requires collegiality. Monetary policy committees (MPCs) are a successful institutional solution in the conditions of information asymmetry and available alternatives for responding with monetary measures to dynamic changes in the economy and shocks. Problem Statement. In Ukraine, at the level of the central bank and in the scientific opinion, the role and status of the MPCs in ensuring financial stability is underestimated, which is perceived more as a working body of the Board of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU). The formation of its composition which includes only top managers of the NBU does not guarantee against the adoption of biased or short-sighted decisions, which can lead to negative consequences for economic growth. There is a need to bring the principles of this collegial body into line with the best practices of central banks. Purpose.To generalize international experience in the institutional development of national central banks in the direction of the corporate structure of the monetary policy committee to ensure greater efficiency of its work and the application of best practices in Ukraine. Methods. Content analysis, methods of scientific abstraction, comparative analysis of statistical information published by central banks of countries that are not part of the European Central Bank system were used. Results. The coronavirus pandemic did not cause significant changes in the organization of committee activities, but it increased the importance of involving external experts to assess and forecast the situation. The analysis of the biographical data of such persons showed that they are highly qualified specialists, recognized in the country and by the international community. In the decisions of individual political bodies the reference to the expectations of the market participants (for example, the prediction of the decision related to maintainance , increase or decrease of the discount rate) deserves special attention as well as the requirement for the members of the body to observe a period of “silence” for at least one week, which means refraining from comments on the statement of position before the meeting. Of course, the practice of involvement the representatives of the Ministry of Finance in meetings of the committee without voting rights is of interest. Conclusions. Monetary policy committees work primarily to ensure price stability, but with a perspective for economic development. The main functions of MPCs in most European countries are not limited to setting the discount rate, but cover reserve requirements, approval of liquidity support programs and refinancing of banks, operations of the central bank in the foreign exchange market and with securities. For Ukraine, it is considered optimal to form MPCs not under the Board, but under the National Bank itself in order to raise its status to the level of a decision-making body. For this amendments should be made to the Law “On the National Bank of Ukraine” and regulations or provisions on the MPCs should be developed. The participation of external experts in the committee is necessary for making informed decisions. Their level of qualification should be confirmed by a doctorate in economics or finance and the status of professor, a solid list of scientific publications and experience of participation in international research. Management experience in public financial corporations, central banks and departments or large financial institutions is desirable. In our opinion, the participation of politicians in the committee is inappropriate, because in the current conditions it will only undermine the independence of the central bank.

End user perspectives on design and conduct of health-related disaster research

Individuals and communities are the intended beneficiaries of disaster research, and are ideally positioned to inform research aims, methods, desirable outcomes and implementation strategies. However, it can be challenging for researchers more familiar with quantitative methods to engage end users in study design and conduct. In an attempt to break down barriers involving end users in health-related disaster research, we outline how our research team conducted community consultations in the early stages of a bushfire-focussed health study, what we found and how this influenced our subsequent research. Participants (n = 76) were recruited by convenience sampling from five communities- one rural community which had direct experience of bushfire 5–10 years ago (n = 9), three communities located in high bushfire risk areas (n = 47) and one community in an urban centre (n = 20). Participants provided their perspectives on previous experiences of research participation and/or priorities/concerns about future health-related disaster research in two custom survey instruments and a focus group. Data analysis using conventional content analysis revealed four themes- 1) the importance of a holistic view of health that encompasses mental, physical, and social wellbeing; 2) appropriate study design/conduct with emphasis on inclusivity, scientific rigor, sensitivity to participants’ needs/circumstances, minimised participant burden and responsiveness to participant feedback; 3) clear and regular communication; and 4) practical, participant-focussed study outcomes. We describe how these findings shaped the design of our subsequent prospective, longitudinal health-focussed disaster research study (the ISLAND Resilience Initiative). This work may support participant engagement in future research studies focused on end user needs following disaster experiences.

학교 중단 청소년의 학교 밖 청소년 지원센터 프로그램 참여 경험에 관한 질적 사례연구

Objectives The purposes of this study The purpose of this study is to examine the specific aspects of out-of- school youth's process of dropping out of middle and high school and their experience of participating in programs at out-of-school youth support centers. This is to provide customized learning support for each learner's characteristics by supporting substantial programs for out-of-school youth.
 Methods Participants in this study selected 7 out-of-school youths who dropped out of the regular curriculum and had more than 1 year of experience using an out-of-school youth support center, 2 to 3 times depending on the research participant, 1 hour to 1 hour 30 times per time. A qualitative case study was conducted to identify and analyze the overall context through in-depth interviews.
 Results A total of 126 concepts, 34 subcategories, and 10 categories were derived in the process of describing, analyzing, and interpreting the experiences of research participants. ‘Shaking school life’, ‘Things to bump into’, ‘Entering the safe fence of Dream Dream’, ‘Experience of Dream Dream Counseling Support Program’, ‘Experience of Dream Dream Participation Activity Support Program’, ‘Experience of Dream Dream Education Support Program’, ‘Experience of Dream Dream job support program’, ‘Experience of Dream Dream self-reliance support program’, ‘Experience of Dream Dream health support program’, and ‘Challenging my dream in Dream Dream’ appeared.
 Conclusions This study investigated the experience of participating in out-of-school youth support center programs for adolescents who dropped out of school. Through this, it was emphasized that effective support should be provided by developing a program that can help out-of-school youth return to school and search for a career path.

북한이탈주민 상담의 특징과 효과적인 상담요인

Objectives The purpose of this study is to explore the characteristics of counseling and factors for effective counseling for North Korean defectors, focusing on the experience of professional counselors who counsel North Korean defectors. Methods To this end, we interviewed 11 professional counselors for North Korean defectors and as a result of analyzing the data using the consensual qualitative research method(CQR). CQR is a useful inductive qualitative research method that limits the subjective impact of researchers and understands the experience of research participants through analysis and final agreement. When analyzing data, various researchers can participate and find a common understanding of the data through the process of consensus. Results As a result of the analysis, a total of 101 core concepts, 29 categories, and 4 areas were derived. The four areas are as follows: ‘Structural Factors Influencing Counseling for North Korean Defectors’, ‘Client Factors in Counseling North Korean Defectors’, ‘Competencies Required of Professional Counselors for North Korean Defectors’, ‘Effective Intervention in the Counseling Process for North Korean Defectors’. Conclusions This study was examined in depth the overall counseling experience of professional counselors for North Korean defectors through qualitative research in order to understand characteristics of counseling on North Korean defectors in detail and we tried to provide basic data useful for counseling for North Korean defectors by exploring factors for effective consultation. Through consensual qualitative research methods, we identified the frequency of participants' primary experiences and discussed the main outcomes.

The Challenge of Clinical Research and Suicidality: Participant Feedback on a Safety Protocol.

Objective: Clinical studies of depression have historically excluded participants with suicidal ideation. Research participant safety protocols are critical to allow for the much-needed study of suicide risk. This report summarizes participant feedback about the safety protocol used in a national, remote study of perinatal women with suicidal ideation.Methods: Upon completion of the study, participants who had triggered the suicidality safety protocol during the study were invited to complete a brief survey with questions about their experiences with the protocol. The survey included 4 Likert-scale questions and 1 open text question where participants could provide feedback, suggestions, and comments to the research team. Participant feedback survey data were collected between October 2021 and April 2022, and this research was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health.Results: Of the 45 participants enrolled in the UPWARD-S study, 16 triggered the safety protocol. All eligible participants (N = 16) completed the survey. Among respondents, most were at least neutral to very comfortable with the call from the study psychiatrist (75% [n = 12]) and reported that the call had a "positive impact" on their well-being (69% [n = 11]). After the call with the study psychiatrist, 50% of participants (n = 8) reported that they increased engagement with treatment for depression, and the other 50% reported no change in treatment. We also report on themes from the qualitative feedback regarding suggestions of how to modify or improve the safety protocol.Conclusions: Learning from the experiences of research participants will provide unique insight into satisfaction with, and impact of, the implemented suicidality safety protocol. Findings from this study could inform the refinement and implementation of safety protocols used in depression studies as well as future research on the impact of such protocols.

고3 담임교사 진로 진학 지도 교육 경험의 해석현상학적 분석

Objectives This study is an interpretative phenomenological study of the experience of high school homeroom teachers' career guidance education in the context of COVID-19. In this study, the difficulties and overcoming strategies of high school homeroom teachers' career guidance were analyzed in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
 Methods For this purpose, among the qualitative research methods, an interpretative phenomenological analysis suggested by Smith et al. (2009) was approached. Interpretive phenomenological analysis is a research approach that goes beyond the phenomenological research practice of describing the experiences of research participants and allows researchers to understand participants' experiences more deeply and form a consensus through active interpretation. The data analysis was analyzed by the six-step procedure presented by Smith et al. (2009). The data was constructed by conducting one-on-one in-depth interviews with research participants.
 Results The results of the study were derived from 23 sub-themes and 7 upper themes. The 7 upper themes are: Crisis in the formation of rapport between students and teachers; burden of responsibility for quarantine other than education and class operation; cultivation of independent educational capabilities even in crisis; Establishing a regular communication channel with students, strengthening crisis management resources through information sharing and mutual communication, and a sense of calling as teachers appeared to be the sources of escape from the crisis.
 Conclusions Based on the results of this study, we discussed the crisis response leadership of high school senior homeroom teachers, the formation of a cooperative system with parents for school crisis management resources, and ways to promote information sharing and communication among teachers, and suggested the creation of a school that is resistant to crisis.

143 Wouldn’t you like to know what your research study participants are thinking? A collaboration for Empowering the Participant Voice

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Empowering the Participant Voice (EPV) is a Rockefeller-led 6-CTSA consortium that aims to collect research participant feedback through new Research Participant Perception Survey (RPPS)/REDCap infrastructure and data aggregation to a national database. Here we describe diverse Use Cases and launch dissemination to other hubs. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: The EPV team refined the RPPS-S and developed fielding and data standards, a multi-lingual RPPS/REDCap project XML, At-a-Glance Dashboard, EPV Consortium Database, and Use Cases to align with local initiatives and stakeholder input. Sites ran full thread tests of the infrastructure before launch. To demonstrate RPPS/REDCap, 5 sites implemented Use Cases, surveyed diverse populations via email, patient portal or SMS, and analyzed results using the At-a-Glance Dashboard External module (which provides visual analytics and enables filtering by participant/study characteristics). Sites continue to collect, synthesize and respond to actionable data. To disseminate infrastructure, we will invite early adopters to implement the RPPS/REDCap infrastructure locally, joining the EPV learning collective. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: To date, 5 sites surveyed 10,199 research participants, at post-consent or end of study. 2833 (26%) research participants responded, from diverse demographic groups. More than 90% gave the Top Box score response regarding courtesy, respect for cultural background, privacy, and lack of pressure to join a study. Disparities were apparent in the informed consent experience, with a Top Box score range of 38-78% in different demographics. Dissatisfaction with out-of-pocket research costs was a recurring theme. Top Box scores varied for feeling like a valued partner in research (69-93%), would recommend research participation to friends or family (56%-81%), and Overall Experience (64%-90%) questions. Sites identified actionable findings in areas of consent, communication, partnership, and study conduct. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: The EPV RPPS/REDCap infrastructure enabled sites to broadly collect participant feedback, identify actionable findings and make inter-institutional comparisons. Collaborators are designing local initiatives to increase response rate and diversity, address disparities in research participation experiences, and discover better practices.

Applying Context, Input, Process and Product (CIPP) Model for Course Evaluation

The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the course titled ELT Pedagogy and Materials from the M.Ed. III semester programme of education under Tribhuvan University by using context, input, process and product (CIPP) model. The evaluation process had gone through qualitative research method using purposively selected five M.Ed. graduates and a course teacher as research participants for data collection. The data was obtained through semi-structured interview and story of everyday class experience of research participants to have an in-depth understanding of their phenomenon. The result indicated that the course has sufficiently identified the needs of secondary level teachers but there seems a lack of coordination between theory and practice. Both students and teachers agreed that objectives of the course are very realistic. However, micro context could not be covered such as lack of focusing in rural context of English language teaching (ELT) and also teachers could not come out from stereotypical teaching pedagogy, brought a sort of disappointment regarding the course and its outcome. Hence, this study implies the worth of implication of CIPP model for programme evaluation and helps to mitigate its pedagogical challenges for better teaching and learning outcomes.

Qualitative Research in Healthcare: Data Analysis.

Qualitative research methodology has been applied with increasing frequency in various fields, including in healthcare research, where quantitative research methodology has traditionally dominated, with an empirically driven approach involving statistical analysis. Drawing upon artifacts and verbal data collected from in-depth interviews or participatory observations, qualitative research examines the comprehensive experiences of research participants who have experienced salient yet unappreciated phenomena. In this study, we review 6 representative qualitative research methodologies in terms of their characteristics and analysis methods: consensual qualitative research, phenomenological research, qualitative case study, grounded theory, photovoice, and content analysis. We mainly focus on specific aspects of data analysis and the description of results, while also providing a brief overview of each methodology's philosophical background. Furthermore, since quantitative researchers have criticized qualitative research methodology for its perceived lack of validity, we examine various validation methods of qualitative research. This review article intends to assist researchers in employing an ideal qualitative research methodology and in reviewing and evaluating qualitative research with proper standards and criteria.

Mechanisms by which culturally‐informed narratives may promote ADRD research enrollment among African American adults

AbstractBackgroundInsufficient racial and ethnic diversity is a pervasive challenge in clinical research on Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The Recruitment Innovations for Diversity Enhancement (RIDE) in AD research study is grounded in the premise that culturally informed narratives of research participation can inspire other individuals from a given culture‐sharing group (in this case, African Americans) to consider enrolling in research. RIDE involved developing and disseminating narrative materials to share the research participation experiences of African American adults who are enrolled in AD research with those who are not. The current analysis aims to examine factors associated with interest in AD research following exposure to RIDE narrative campaign materials.MethodA community‐based sample of 500 individuals, primarily in mid to late life, identifying as Black or African American adults were invited to view a RIDE study video (∼2 minute story of AD research participation) online and complete a survey of perceptions about research and researchers, AD risk, and likelihood of enrolling in AD research. Logistic regression models were used to identify predictors of self‐reported likelihood of participating in AD research and potential mediators were tested to examine the causal pathway between predictors and likelihood of enrollment.ResultMost (n = 376; 72%) participants reported interest in being contacted to learn more about local AD research opportunities. After controlling for demographic variables and perceived AD risk, prior experience with clinical research and trust in medical researchers emerged as independent predictors of likelihood of enrolling in AD research. Mediation analysis revealed that perceived burdens of AD research mediated 40.5% of the effect of prior research experience and 25.3% of the effect of trust on likelihood of enrollment (P<0.05). Perceived benefits of AD research also played a mediating role, accounting for 35.3% of the effect of trust on likelihood of enrollment (P = 0.006).ConclusionThis study is a first step to understand the mechanisms by which narrative may function to enhance diversity in AD research. Findings suggest that participant narratives should address experiences that speak to the burdens and potential benefits of AD research participation as these factors may influence decisions leading to subsequent research enrollment.

Gendering Death: A Study of Oppressive Stereotypes Underlying Muslim Funeral and Burial Rituals in Egypt

This research explores how Muslim funeral and burial rituals in Egypt are shaped by gender stereotypes and socio-cultural norms that predispose masculinity and femininity. It examines the experience of research participants in the context of these gendered rituals and how it affects their participation in them. I adopt a qualitative methodology using personal narrative and auto-ethnography. Analysing physical and emotional experiences, I assess how the regulation of female bodies impacts women participants’ understanding of their bodies. Gender stereotypes, such as the association of women with irrationality, are scrutinised in regards to how they influence ritual and ceremonial practices – such as sex segregation – and in turn affect the emotional experiences of participant women. Furthermore, I address the performativity of masculinity imposed by the ceremonies and assert that Muslim burial and funeral rituals are a norm, a form of power demarcated by gender stereotypes. The gendered nature of the rituals shapes our experiences as males and females, rendering it unequal.

Critical ethnography: opportunities for social work research

Social work research is conducted using various approaches and methods. This article aims to characterize critical ethnography and its opportunities for critical social work aimed at overcoming structural inequalities. Within the framework of the study, an analysis of 28 English-language full-text publications was carried out according to the following criteria: (1) the general purpose of critical ethnography as a research methodology in social work and its philosophy; (2) stages and procedures for using critical ethnography, the roles of researchers and other research participants; (3) cases of the use of critical ethnography in social work; (4) the advantages and limitations of critical ethnography. Critical ethnography, like traditional ethnography, involves long-term observations of certain practices in the "field conditions." Observations can be supplemented by other methods that make it possible to assess the life experience of research participants from the perspective of the participants themselves. Critical ethnography makes it possible to identify and describe structural inequality in society and to challenge existing practices, in particular, practices of providing social services. The main focus of research is the identification of hidden values and the use of power relations that reinforce the inequality of certain social groups and social injustice. Researchers are expected to have their own position and provide adequate theoretical justification for their actions, deep immersion in the context and social situation. The use of critical ethnography involves a number of successive stages: the preparatory stage; the organizational and methodological stage; the field stage; the stage of research findings analysis; the presentation and dissemination of the results in order to promote social change.

A phenomenological study of addiction recovery at a model drug abuse center, Social Welfare Department, Punjab, Pakistan

This article attempts to provide an insight into the experiences of drug addicts at a rehabilitation center, run by the provincial Social Welfare Department in Lahore, Pakistan, through a qualitative approach. The menace of drugs is increasing worldwide, including Pakistan. Effective treatment and rehabilitative services can lower the prevalence rate of drug addiction. The aim of this research was to understand/explore the experiences of research participants about the phenomenon of drug addiction and rehabilitation services provided in the field of social welfare. This research extends the current knowledge of individuals’ drug addiction by revealing the complexities and intricacies of this behavior.