please see my article on "The Use of Metaphors as Contextual Evidence to engage Haitian Clients." I think it may be of help to you. It involves the use of traditional story-telling, drawing on the metaphors that are part of the traditional proverbs, to engage, establish rapport and acieve therapeutic gains. Hope this helped. If not, perhaps some of the references in the article will. Thank you.

Thank you Guitele. As I read your article I wondered if you might be interested in the work of 'Just Therapy' - see http://www.familycentre.org.nz/Areas_of_Work/Family_Therapy/

This team developed an approach to family therapy in the 1980s which used culturally appropriate metaphors (particularly with Maori and Pacific peoples) as part of the therapy. Spirituality is recognised as integral to this work. The work of the centre is now largely related to social research, but it has maintained a strong sense of confronting the politics of gender, culture and economic injustice.

Another link that may be useful: http://www.familycentre.org.nz/Publications/PDF%27s/TCX%20Culture%20Belonging%20Liberation%205%2012.pdf

Thank you!:)

HI Gavin would you be using a grounded theory approach here? Carol

HI Gavin - I've found it hard to get clinicians interested in a survey ... is interesting that they bailed out at that point. Vignette can be very useful, but they can also be quite revealing if using a discursive analytical approach

Thanks John,

I have used the vignettes as starters within interviews, so that participants are invited to think about what informs their responses - some respond with experiences from their personal family lives - for themselves or their children - others from experiences with teaching in schools or or events with neighbours' children. So I haven't found these to be constraining - although there is often a wondering from them about more information - but I keep to the planned vignette for consistency between participants.

You might want to take a look at the work of Pia Kontos, who has used vignettes extensively (in different ways) as a way to explore embodiment/embodied self-hood of people with dementia with health care providers. I don't have the references on hand, but try a quick search and see what you can come up with. I can dig them out if you need, no problem.

Thanks Julia, I've found Pia's website and will follow through - appreciate your suggestion.

Paul;

My experience with vignettes is similar to John Cicala's. It is also challenging to ensure the vignette doesn't guide the participant in a particular direction and create bias. It may also limit the generalizability of your findings because of the multitude of circumstances that inform the participants response. Good Luck.