Use Of Vignettes Research Articles

Developing and Using Vignettes to Explore the Relationship Between Risk Management Practice and Recovery-Oriented Care in Mental Health Services.

There is a lack of literature evaluating the development and use of vignettes to explore contested constructs in qualitative health care research where a conventional interview schedule might impose assumptions on the data collected. We describe the development and validation of vignettes in a study exploring mental health worker and service user understandings of risk and recovery in U.K. mental health services. Focus groups with mental health workers and service users explored study questions from experiential perspectives. Themes identified in the groups were combined with existing empirical literature to develop a set of vignettes. Feedback focus groups were conducted to validate and amend the vignettes. Following use in research interviews, results suggested that the vignettes had successfully elicited data on issues of risk and recovery in mental health services. Further research using creative, comparative methods is needed to fully understand how vignettes can best be used in qualitative health care research.

A nationwide investigation of radiation therapy event reporting-and-learning systems: Can standards be improved?

IntroductionVariation exists between event reporting-and-learning systems utilised in radiation therapy. Due to the impact of errors associated with this field of medicine, evidence-based and rigorous systems are imperative. The implementation of such systems facilitates the reactive enhancement of patient safety following an event. The purpose of this study was to evaluate Irish event reporting-and-learning procedures against the current literature using a developed evidence-based process map, and to propose recommendations as to how the national standard could be improved. MethodsRadiation Therapy Service Managers of all Irish radiation therapy institutions (n = 12) were invited to participate in an anonymous online questionnaire. Included in the questionnaire was a reporting-and-learning process map developed from evidence-based literature, which was used to assess the institution's practice through the use of vignettes. Frequency analysis of closed-ended questions and thematic analysis of open-ended questions was performed to assess the data. ResultsA 91.7% response rate was achieved. The following areas were found to have the most variation with the evidence-based process map: event classification, external reporting, and dissemination of lessons-learned to a wider audience. Recommendations to standardise practice were made. ConclusionOpportunities for improvement exist within event reporting-and-learning systems of Irish radiation therapy institutions and recommendations have been made on these. These findings can provide learning for other countries with similar reporting systems.

The use of vignettes in participatory research with young children

ABSTRACTParticipatory advocacy in research has brought new ways of thinking and researching young children’s lives. Although some such methods in research are more successful than others, it is the process of involving children and their voices that matter most. Thus, this paper examines to what extent the vignette method facilitates participatory research with young children. This paper draws on a research project that employed the vignette method (hypothetical scenarios which unfold through a series of stages) and critically examines to what extent this can be used as participatory research. It is argued that vignette can become part of the repertoire of participatory methods as it allows space for dialogicality and is concerned with children’s personal meanings. Finally, it is proposed that when using vignettes the research should not strive for generalisations from homogenous data, but instead move towards the discourse of heterogeneity of data.

A tale of two societies: The doing of qualitative comparative research in Hong Kong and Britain

This article explores the challenges and opportunities for methodological innovation arising from an exploratory, cross-national, qualitative study of women’s lives in Hong Kong and Britain. We begin by briefly outlining the aims of our study and its original research design, based on life history interviews with young adult women and their mothers in each location. We then turn to a discussion of how this was modified as we recruited participants and conducted the interviews, including the use of vignettes. We aim to be transparent about some of the problems of implementing a symmetrical approach to generating qualitative data in very different socio-cultural settings compounded by the practical difficulties of geographical distance between team members. We argue for a flexible approach that takes account of local cultural sensibilities rather than trying to follow rigidly identical procedures, recognising also that, in any qualitative research team, there will be differences in approach that affect the data produced. We highlight some of the insights yielded by the problems we encountered and, in particular, an accidental innovation that occurred through an ad hoc decision to conduct focus groups with the young women, which we call ‘cross-cultural data feedback’. This innovation involved our participants in contributing to cross-cultural comparison and also brought taken-for-granted assumptions in each setting into sharp relief, as well as sensitising us to issues that proved important in analysing our data. This leads us to raise issues of interpreting and analysing data from differing socio-cultural locations and translating between cultures. We conclude with some recommendations including the potential for the future development of our method of cross-cultural data feedback.

Whiteness in the academy: using vignettes to move beyond safe silences

ABSTRACTThis point of departure presents the writings of a White, female teacher educator’s experiences in the academy. Through the use of vignettes, the author discusses how four recent experiences – and her writing about those experiences – reveal the insidiousness of silence and Whiteness in the academy.

Testing Standard Precaution Vignettes and Tool for Cross-Purpose Use in Surveillance and Education

BACKGROUND: The Standard Precaution Observation Tool measures standard precaution (SP) indications and actions, including hand hygiene, linen management, and use of sharps and personal protective equipment. In a 2015 pilot study observers were trained using vignettes as well as in-hospital training to conduct observations in five hospitals. The purpose of this study is to: (1) evaluate use of vignettes and observational tool as an educational measure of SP knowledge and (2) examine the relationship between knowledge and adherence.

Would you choose to be happy? Tradeoffs between happiness and the other dimensions of life in a large population survey

A large literature documents the determinants of happiness. But is happiness all that people want from life; and if so, what type of happiness matters to them? Or are they willing to sacrifice happiness (however it is defined) for other attributes in their lives? We show direct evidence that individuals trade-off levels of happiness with levels of income, physical health, family, career success and education in a large sample of UK and US individuals. On average, all types of happiness are preferred to other attributes except health. People prefer affective happiness (feeling good) over evaluative (life satisfaction) and eudaimonic (worthwhileness) components. This result is robust to methodological innovations, such as the use of vignettes and judgements of the lives described.

The use of vignettes to empower effective responses to attempted sexual assault

ABSTRACTObjective: Women assertively resisting sexual aggression have the best chances of avoiding completed rape. Especially with acquaintances, there are significant social and psychological barriers to resistance. Novel vignettes depicting acquaintance rape were designed to enhance self-efficacy, reduce unrealistic optimism, and empower assertive resistance. Participants: The data were collected using a Web-based survey of 449 female college students from multiple universities in August–October 2014. Methods: Between-subjects mixed-methods design. Participants were randomly assigned to read one of four vignettes and complete self-report measures of personal vulnerability, self-efficacy, and beliefs and intention about resistance. Results: Although vignettes did not impact self-efficacy, one vignette enhanced perceived controllability and decreased unrealistic optimism. Women who read about completed acquaintance rape described intention to use physically assertive responses at double the rate of women reading about successful resistance. Conclusions: As low-cost, easily disseminated materials, vignettes about sexual assault may enhance campus prevention efforts.

Saúde do idoso: reflexões acerca da integralidade do cuidado

Objective: The objective was to understand, on the professional point of view, the elderly care practice aiming completeness. Methods: The methodological approach was guided by qualitative research, with projective interview being used for data collection, having as a trigger the use of vignette. It was used as a methodological reference the content analysis, thematic modality. The subjects are 34 professionals of two family health units and their corresponding Support Family Health Centers. Results: The study shows that there is some progress in elderly care; however, it identifies the need to improve the work process among professionals because the treatment model is still hegemonic. Listening and bonding are identified as essential instrument for achieving completeness. Conclusion: In macro space, it was possible to identify the need for investment in professionals such as Continuing Education. It is also essential for managers to structure a care network that includes the elder.

Training Psychiatry Residents in Professionalism in the Digital World.

Professionalism is an abstract concept which makes it difficult to define, assess and teach. An additional layer of complexity is added when discussing professionalism in the context of digital technology, the internet and social media - the digital world. Current physicians-in-training (residents and fellows) are digital natives having been raised in a digital, media saturated world. Consequently, their use of digital technology and social media has been unconstrained - a reflection of it being integral to their social construct and identity. Cultivating the professional identity and therefore professionalism is the charge of residency training programs. Residents have shown negative and hostile attitudes to formalized professionalism curricula in training. Approaches to these curricula need to consider the learning style of Millennials and incorporate more active learning techniques that utilize technology. Reviewing landmark position papers, guidelines and scholarly work can therefore be augmented with use of vignettes and technology that are available to residency training programs for use with their Millennial learners.

The Use of Vignettes in Evaluating Asian Language Questionnaire Items

Vignettes are hypothetical situations that can be used to review questionnaire items with research participants, whereas it would be cost prohibitive to recruit participants that can represent all the situations in the questionnaire. The vignette method has been shown effective in evaluating questionnaires in English and Spanish cognitive interviews, but little research is available on its application to additional languages. This paper attempts to fill in the knowledge gap by examining the use of vignettes to evaluate questionnaire translation in the three most commonly spoken Asian languages in the United States: Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese. This study is based on a cognitive testing study undertaken by the U.S. Census Bureau to pretest the translation of a questionnaire form in multiple languages. We found that vignettes are effective in examining comprehension issues related to Asian language translation because it revealed translation and comprehension issues, as well as the sociocultural context that questionnaire designers need to understand in order to design culturally appropriate non-English language questionnaires. We also explore vignette design and future research directions.

Two facets of pride and helping

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the influence of two different facets of pride – authentic and hubristic – on helping. Design/methodology/approach – Hypotheses were tested combining an experimental vignette study (n=75) with correlational field research (n=184). Findings – Results reveal that hubristic pride is associated with lower levels of intended helping compared with authentic pride when experimentally induced; further, trait hubristic pride is negatively related with helping, whereas trait authentic pride is positively related to helping, while controlling for alternative affective and cognitive explanations. Research limitations/implications – The use of vignettes and self-reports limits the ecological validity of the results. But when considered in combination, results provide important indications on how helping can be fostered in organizations: by emphasizing successes and the efforts that were necessary to achieve them. Originality/value – The results highlight the differential effects of discrete emotions in organizations.

Impact of an in-service training in neurocognitive insights on teacher stress, teacher professionalism and teacher student relationships

The stressful nature of the teaching profession is recognised worldwide. Consistent with the recent international attention regarding the connection between neurocognition and education, the study ‘Learn2be@school’ introduced a training for teachers about the occurrence of stress and the relationship between human behaviour and the functioning of the human brain. This study investigates whether neurocognitive insights contribute to stress reduction in the professional and personal functioning of teachers, and focuses more specifically on the impact of the training on their attitudes (attitude level), understanding (knowledge level) and handling (application level) of complex stress situations. Using a quasi-experimental study design with 12 participants and 28 non-participants, data were gathered twice through the use of vignettes and in-depth interviews. The results indicated an impact of the training, not only on the stress experienced by teachers in their professional and personal functioning, but also at the level of the teacher–student relationship and team functioning.

Shared Decision-making in the Emergency Department: Respecting Patient Autonomy When Seconds Count.

Shared decision-making (SDM), a collaborative process in which patients and providers make health care decisions together, taking into account the best scientific evidence available, as well as the patient's values and preferences, is being increasingly advocated as the optimal approach to decision-making for many health care decisions. The rapidly paced and often chaotic environment of the emergency department (ED), however, is a unique clinical setting that offers many practical and contextual challenges. Despite these challenges, in a recent survey emergency physicians reported there to be more than one reasonable management option for over 50% of their patients and that they take an SDM approach in 58% of such patients. SDM has also been selected as the topic on which to develop a future research agenda at the 2016 Academic Emergency Medicine consensus conference, "Shared Decision-making in the Emergency Department: Development of a Policy-relevant Patient-centered Research Agenda" (http://www.saem.org/annual-meeting/education/2016-aem-consensus-conference). In this paper the authors describe the conceptual model of SDM as originally conceived by Charles and Gafni and highlight aspects of the model relevant to the practice of emergency medicine. In addition, through the use of vignettes from the authors' clinical practices, the applicability of SDM to contemporary EM practice is illustrated and the ethical and pragmatic implications of taking an SDM approach are explored. It is hoped that this document will be read in advance of the 2016 Academic Emergency Medicine consensus conference, to facilitate group discussions at the conference.

In the eyes of the beholder: Understanding subtypes of social withdrawal among young Chinese children.

In this commentary on Ding etal. (Brit. J. Dev. Psychol., 2015; 33, 159-173), we focus on the following: (1)the authors' use of vignettes portraying various prototypes of withdrawn children and (2) the cultural interpretation of their findings. We end with some suggestions for future research.

Use of Vignettes in Qualitative Research on Drug Use: Scoping Review and Case Example from Brazil

This paper examines the use of vignettes, a research method used to explore sensitive issues in studies on drug use. First aim, to explore available literature on the use of vignettes in examining the phenomenon of drug use; Second, to illustrate the actual use of a vignette to capture the experiences of teachers in a school setting in Brazil. This we propose to do by applying Arksey and O’Malley’s scoping review technique. Twenty-six qualitative studies were found that met the reviews inclusion and exclusion criteria. Across studies, the vignette technique as a method of data collection was applied in different aspects of drug use (education and training, ethics in research, identification of risk, HIV, prevention, public conceptions, religion, rape, social policy, treatment). The main reasons to use this method were related, but not limited to the sensitive area of drug use, to stimulate discussion, to get participants involved, and to maintain confidentiality. In nursing practice, vignettes can make it easier to the patient to address drug use’s topics in group and individually. With the use of the vignette technique, qualitative researchers can increase the possibility of discussion about drug use with the participants, based on their choices and reflection on the scenario.

All of us? An exploration of the concept of mental health literacy based on young people's responses to fictional mental health vignettes.

Mental health literacy is increasingly referenced as a goal of mental health policy. However, the current definition of this concept has a relatively narrow focus on mental disorders. The objectives of this study were to explore mental health literacy through the use of vignettes and to begin to articulate a broader definition. Six groups of young people (n=42) aged between 16 and 25 years old responded to open-ended questions about vignettes depicting fictional characters with diagnosable mental health problems. The responses were analysed using Foucault's governmentality theory. The responses to the vignettes highlighted a range of determinants of our mental health. The young people suggested informal mental health-promoting techniques and highlighted the importance of talking. Ambiguity was reported in relation to the types of knowledge that are important in responding to mental health need. Finally, the responses were reflective of young people who are empathetic and view mental health from the perspective of our shared humanity, rather than as a marginal issue. As mental health literacy is increasingly becoming a goal of mental health policy, it is timely that a shared understanding of this important concept is articulated. The current definition of mental health literacy is narrow in its focus on the recognition of mental disorders. A more broad-based definition of mental health literacy should be adopted by policy makers, reflecting the full range of determinants of mental health and recognising the importance of mental wellbeing.

Emotional Engagement and Active Learning in a Marketing Simulation: A Review and Exploratory Study

This paper considers the role of emotional engagement during the use of a simulation. This is placed in the context of learning about marketing. The literature highlights questions of engagement and interactivity that are entailed in the use of these simulations. It is observed here that both the anticipation of and the process of engagement with the simulation generate emotional responses. The evidence of emotional anticipation was collected through the use of vignettes and a short survey. The production of negative emotions before and after the activity was observed and considered. The particular occurrence of these emotions on the development of understanding is then discussed. There is general evidence for the mundane reality of such simulations that support learning and group engagement. The connection with activity theory was explored and proposed as a potential theoretical fit with the evidence.

Successfully Writing and Defending the Dissertation Proposal: A Review of Designing Qualitative Research

Designing Qualitative Research (5th ed.) by Catherine Marshall and Gretchen B. Rossman (2011) is, in my opinion, a book of compiled elements central to the design and defense of the qualitative research proposal. The authors provide invaluable examples through the use of vignettes. Overall, the book is an easy read that is essentially divided into two parts: research design and proposal defense. As a whole, this book is a useful tool for anyone taking on a qualitative research study for the first time.

Migration, risk attitudes, and entrepreneurship: evidence from a representative immigrant survey

Abstract Do more risk loving migrants opt for self-employment? We use a novel vignette-adjusted measure of risk preferences to investigate the link between risk aversion and entrepreneurship in migrant communities. Using an original representative household survey of the migrant population in the Greater Dublin Area, we find a significant negative relationship between risk aversion and entrepreneurship. Our results show that the use of vignettes improves the significance of the results, as they simultaneously correct for differential item functioning (where respondents interpret the self-evaluation scale in different ways) between entrepreneurs and non-entrepreneurs, and correct for variation in the use of self-evaluation scales between migrants from different countries of origin. This finding may help explaining the variability in results on the correlation between risk preferences and entrepreneurship reported in previous studies. JEL: F22; J01; J15; J61; L26