Contextualising Relationships Between Mothers and Practitioners: Social Structures, Causal Factors, and Generative Mechanisms

Wendy Sims-Schouten and Sarah Barton
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Wendy Sims-Schouten: University of Portsmouth, UK
Sarah Barton: University of Portsmouth, UK

Sociological Research Online, 2020, vol. 25, issue 3, 369-385

Abstract: This study seeks to build an explanation of the sociological, psychological, and political processes and practices involved in relationships between mothers and practitioners, as generative and causal powers that underlie and shape this. Critical realist’s primacy of ontology forms the starting point, with grounded theory as the epistemological force providing critical realism’s method, contextualising research, and embedding this more firmly into practice. As such, this article offers critical realist grounded theory (CRGT) as a tool for contextualising parent–practitioner relationships, drawing on retroductive argumentation, which involves moving from the level of observation and lived experiences to making (non-linear) inferences about underlying structures/mechanisms that may account for the phenomena. Thirty-four participants participated in six in-depth focus group discussions; three were with early years practitioners and three with mothers of children aged between 2 years and 4 years. Focused coding led to themes reflecting the lived experiences of mothers and practitioners, namely being valued, relationships, what happens at home, child at the centre , and when I am not there. In line with CRGT, multiple causal mechanisms (including the interpretations of each situation made by individuals) were identified that were active in the situated contexts. To improve relationships between mothers and practitioners, attention needs to be paid to the psychological, social, and political forces at play, as generative, causal, and contextual powers, that have an impact on the status and relationships of the players within this triad (mothers, practitioners, and child).

Keywords: childhood; critical realism; grounded theory; parenting; qualitative research (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:socres:v:25:y:2020:i:3:p:369-385

DOI: 10.1177/1360780419870808

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