2006 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary
Enhancement of Quality of Life of Alcoholics and the Role of Peer Support
| Project/Area Number |
16530370
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Research Field |
Social welfare and social work studies
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| Research Institution | Osaka Prefecture University |
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Principal Investigator |
MATSUDA Hiroyuki Osaka Prefecture University, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Associate Professor, 人間社会学部, 助教授 (30288500)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
KOJIMA Akiko Osaka Prefecture University, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Associate Professor, 人間社会学部, 助教授 (40298401)
TAGAKI Masakuni Osaka Prefecture University, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Assistant Professor, 人間社会学部, 講師 (30347512)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2004 – 2006
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| Keywords | alcoholism / peer support / self-help group |
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| Research Abstract |
First, this research examined significance of qualitative study in social work. The aim of qualitative study is genesis of model or hypothesis, or thick description of phenomena through qualitative data analysis. The "truth" is not eternal depending on socio-cultural or historical context in qualitative inquiry's epistemology. Researchers are involved to the data, which does not exist outside them. Also, qualitative research will make new perspective from social workers or other kinds of practitioners. According to such a methodological framework, we applied interview and qualitative analysis with members from Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) to examine how they are practicing the programs of AA for their recovery. We focused on a spiritual aspect of quality of life especially. Through this research, we found the hypothesis that in recovering processes of AA members, they utilize power games in a group as well as the programs of recovery and such a recovering process is based on the "impossibility of being perfect" and the concept of the Higher Power. In AA, a member can do stop drinking by accepting man's finitude and the limit of capability. It becomes possible by the Higher Power. The Higher Power never appears in itself. However, nevertheless, the Higher Power regulates a member's way of life. AA member according to the interview of this research talked "The Higher Power is something that make me possible to live." Thus, the Higher Power can be expressed only with a metaphor. Through interview and qualitative analysis with a social worker, we examined that peer supports in AA help not only members' quality of life to be enhanced, but also helping professionals' practices to be transformed.
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