Group-Analytic Contexts, Issue 80, June 2018

84 Group-Analytic Society International - Contexts
And if it’s still raining and if you’re not a fan of ‘singing and
dancing in the rain’ but a (potentially) diligent researcher, you’ll look
at your list again and continue. Now you’ll have to identify your
specific research question(s). You’ll state these unambiguously, as
clearly as possible. Bear in mind when formulating your own
hypotheses that your questions need to be potentially answerable.
Measurable hypotheses are a good starting point. The statement
(hypothesis) “group analytic groups are boring” is not a great
hypothesis. Whilst it’s potentially answerable, it’s not specific enough.
Moreover, it would assume that all analytic groups are the same. And
the concept ‘boredom’ is relative. What’s boring for one person, might
be of interest to another. “A 20-week group which uses mentalisation
techniques will achieve a reduction in depression scores by 5 points”,
would be a better hypothesis.
Once you’ll have narrowed down your research area and
formulated your hypothesis - what next? You’ll check for feasibility.
Not whether you’d rather dance in wellies or trainers while singing in
the rain … but whether your search problems and questions are
feasible. What does this mean? Examine your list of problems
critically while sipping another cup of tea. You can skip the latter but
the former mandatory.
Consider your resources, time and the availability of data (or
their absence). Are your questions researchable? If they aren’t, go
back to bed and start again. Think about your topic and be honest. Will
you be motivated enough to carry it through? Will you be able to
sustain your attention and continue with your research even on days
when the sun will be shining, or a tempting cricket or football game
will be on TV, or you can think of better things to do? If you answered
‘yes’ to the former, continue. If your answer is “no” and you’d rather
watch the footie, you know the drill.
Finally, will your results be of interest to others? What
interests you might be a waste of time or resources in the eyes of others.
People who matter, like the ethics committee. You’ll need their
approval. And now is not the time to say “I’ve overcome my ‘parental
issues’, I’m not trying to gain their approval anymore, ‘cause it doesn’t
matter …”
Approval does matter. If the research/ethics panel says “no”
to your research proposal and rejects it (not you, it’s not personal but
professional), you’ll have to revise, or even scrap it. So, think critically
about all the above issues beforehand to avoid disappointment. If you
are unsure, phone a trusted friend (if s/he knows something about
research). Or ask the GASi or IGA audience. Don’t go 50:50. The