The Self-Help Clearinghouse: A New Development in Action Research for Community Psychology

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The self-help clearinghouse can be viewed as a new development in action research for community psychology, as a "methodological invention" addressing practical and methodological difficulties of self-help group research. A social exchange model provides advantages in defining the collaborative relationships between researchers, clearing-houses, and self-help groups. The action research concepts of acquisition of practical and theoretical knowledge, organizational feedback, intervention, and evaluation provide a useful framework for analysis. From a public health perspective, it is important to conduct comprehensive studies with self-help group members. Outcome studies need to be complemented by qualitative and ethnographic studies of self-help groups. It is also important to understand how to attract subpopulations presently underserved by self-help groups and to conduct research on how groups can most effectively interface the health and mental health system. This research agenda can best be achieved by collaborative research through self-help clearinghouses.

This publication has 30 references indexed in Scilit: