Explorations of Organisational Problems of Self-Help Groups for Parents whose children have intractable diseases, with Focus Group Interviews
Project/Area Number |
11610203
|
Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
|
Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
Section | 一般 |
Research Field |
社会学(含社会福祉関係)
|
Research Institution | Sophia University |
Principal Investigator |
OKA Tomofumi Sophia University, Faculty of Humanities, Associate Professor, 文学部, 助教授 (50194329)
|
Project Period (FY) |
1999 – 2001
|
Project Status |
Completed (Fiscal Year 2001)
|
Budget Amount *help |
¥1,800,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,800,000)
Fiscal Year 2001: ¥500,000 (Direct Cost: ¥500,000)
Fiscal Year 2000: ¥600,000 (Direct Cost: ¥600,000)
Fiscal Year 1999: ¥700,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000)
|
Keywords | self-help groups / the free-rider problem / organisational socialisation / parent groups / children with intractable diseases / focus group interviews / qualitative interviews / voluntary organisations / organizational socialization / ナラティブ・アプローチ / フリーライダー問題 / 難病 / 患者会 / リーダーシップ / 質的調査 / フォーカスグループ / ピアカウンセリング / 児童 |
Research Abstract |
The purpose of this project is to examine the organisational problems, and in particular the leadership problems, of self-help groups in Japan for parents whose children have intractable diseases. I have been involved with these parent groups, and have conducted six focus group interviews, and fourteen guided interviews, involving the members of twenty-one parent groups. Part of the research was carried out as participatory action research in which a research team was formed and authorised by the parent groups. My findings have shown that the groups' most serious problems lay not outside their groups but within, with the shortage of suitable leaders who volunteered in the activities. Three different sorts of account were given concerning the leadership shortage. They included justification, accusation and exposure : the participants claimed that taking care of ill children caused the leadership shortage ; selfish members created it ; or the determination of older leaders to remain at the helm prevented new members from becoming leaders. Cognitive maps have been drawn of these situations. I have explained the theories behind the free-rider and social loafing problems, and the leadership traps confronting the parent groups, and have applied attribution theory to the results. I have discussed the practicality of consultation for group leaders, and argued that organisational socialisation should be activated in the parent groups while propounding the island-within-a-lake model of parent groups. Methodologically, I discussed social research within Japanese culture and the ethical issues pertain to participatory action research.
|
Report
(4 results)
Research Products
(3 results)