Research
Research the the Clinic for Boundaries Studies
Only a small amount of research has been done on professional boundary violations in the UK and very inadequate data exists on many aspects of the subject. As a result there is little public or professional understanding of the impact and consequences of professional boundary violations in this country.
We encourage everyone (ex-clients of the CfBS, the public, students, academics and professionals) to contribute to the knowledge pool on professional boundary violations. Although we are unable to provide financial support, we are able to offer other forms of support, facilitation and encouragement. For example, we can help:
• Members of the public and ex-clients of the clinic who want to share their experience of professional boundary violations.
• Students who are looking for suggestions for dissertations.
• Professionals who want to collaborate more closely with the CfBS by becoming research associates.
Client experiential accounts of professional abuse
We welcome written accounts from members of the public who have been affected by professional boundary violations. This could be first hand experience or the experience of someone’s partner, relative or friend. We are also particularly keen to hear from people who have experience of going through (or have tried to go through) complaints processes as we are planning to publish a book on the subject early next year. Clients at the CfBS continually tell us that reading experiential accounts has been an invaluable and important part of their recovery process. Likewise, those who contribute their experience describe feeling empowered because they no longer feel isolated and silenced.
Sometimes people who have experienced professional boundary violations would rather be interviewed. This is also a valuable way of making experiences known, and the clinic keeps a list of people who may be willing to talk anonomously to researchers about their experience. People also sometimes have letters, transcripts of therapy sessions and transcripts of professional conduct hearings, which provide evidence that is extremely valuable to researchers. In such cases confidentiality is of paramount concern.
Student dissertations
We are happy to talk to students who are considering topics for MA dissertations, doctorates or PhDs. Where the CfBS has made a significant intellectual or practical contribution an acknowledgement would be expected.
Research Associates
We encourage people who want to get involved in the Clinic’s research projects to consider becoming research associates (RA). RA’s contribute to our research program in two ways:
• To ongoing research by taking on: discrete data collection tasks, analysis of data or literature searches. We are keen to use whatever expertise researchers bring to best advantage. Contributions from RA’s to research, which is written up by the CfBS for publication, will be acknowledged in the following way: small contributions as acknowledgements at the end of the paper; where the contribution is more substantial the RA will be included as a contributing author.
• Research Associates with more time may wish to take responsibility for a research project suggested by the CfBS. In such cases the CfBS and the researcher will agree objectives and methods in advance. The researcher will then discuss the progress of the research with the Clinic at agreed intervals or whenever key decisions need to be made about the direction of the research. The RA will be responsible for writing up the research and a draft will be discussed with the Clinic before being submitted for publication. The RA will be the first author on any paper. The clinic’s researcher will be named as a subsequent author, except were the contribution has been too small to warrant this, in which case an acknowledgement would usually be appropriate. The clinic should be named as the submitting institution (or one of) and researchers may describe themselves as a ‘research associate of the CfBS’. If any data has been obtained from clients of the CfBS this should be acknowledged at the end of the paper. In cases where this material is not in the public domain, written consent for publication and ethics approval should be obtained; this should be made explicit on the paper.
Research associates will be asked to sign a contract agreeing to these conditions on commencing their relationship with the CfBS.
Ethical framework
All research by, and in conjunction with, the CfBS is undertaken in accordance with our code of ethics and values of transparency, accountability and respect. Our core ethical principle of the client’s wellbeing should be used as the ultimate test in ethical decision-making and also when ethical principles conflict during all parts of the research process.
Confidentiality
Since all CfBS research is undertaken with our core value of ‘the client’s well-being’ in mind, we conduct all research according to the wishes of the client. As a result the client’s views on confidentiality are paramount. For example, some clients would not want even people who know about their experience to recognise their account and so many details would need to be changed for publication. In contrast other people want key information to be contributed to the knowledge pool so that others can benefit from their experience. In such cases we are keen to facilitate whatever degree of transparency a client wishes, subject to legal considerations.
Ethics approval
Research that involves the participation of people must be subject to ethical approval. This includes not only members of the public, clients, ex-clients and relatives, it also includes professionals and staff. Research involving adults (aged 16 or over) lacking the capacity to consent is governed by sections 30-34 of the Mental Capacity Act 2005, which came into force on the 1st of October 2007.