USE OF TYPOLOGIES FOR MEASURING SELF-IDENTITY CHANGE - METHODOLOGICAL ISSUES IN LONGITUDINAL QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

A microsociological research which traced the experience of 120 women (during five years of psychotherapy they undertook to resolve existential problems) used different typologies in the organisation of qualitative data. The major typology, of psychosocial identity was of importance not only in data-ordering, but also in appreciating the changes occurring to individuals during the psychotherapeutic process. The other two typologies were essentially of 'sensitising concepts' but also represented structural social elements and broadened the microfocus to include features of four different therapies and therapeutic 'communities'. This article discusses the methodological implications of this technical approach to ordering qualitative data, the actual research procedure used in the creation of the typologies and, in brief outline, their content.