Researching Beneath the Surface

Anne-Marie Cummins is a Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of the West of England, Bristol. Her research interests are the emotional factors which enter into teaching and learning and in particular resistances, both emotional and political, to current educational regimes in Higher Education. She has worked in the Group Relations field for some time and is Award Leader of the Masters in Group Relations at the University of the West of England. Her work is informed by both psychoanalytic and sociological thought and addresses the passions and politics invoked by trying to teach and learn in modern organisational life. Nigel Williams is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology and Sociology, and a member of the Psycho-Social Studies research network at UWE. He is engaged in in Psycho-Social research that reaches across boundaries to deepen and inform professional practices. He lectures in psycho-social and Beneath the Surface methodologies, systems and complexity theory, and intergenerational memory. He is an organisational consultant and is a registered and qualified psychotherapist and supervisor with United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy. His has recently published an essay, 'The Anglo-German diaspora', in 'The Ethics of Remembering and the Consequences of Forgetting: Essays on Trauma, History and Memory' edited by Michael O'Loughlin (Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc, 2014).

"Volume 1 of Researching Beneath the Surface was something of a landmark in psychosocial studies. If anything, Volume 2 is even more significant. Theoretically wide ranging and willing to take risks, it invites psychosocial researchers to look again at their practice and their claims to knowledge. It will be invaluable reading for everyone in the field, whether experienced researchers or those coming to the psychosocial for the first time." --Peter Redman, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, The Open University"This volume questions, challenges, extends and enriches the still emergent practice of psycho-social research. In doing so, the authors cultivate a therapeutically informed research practice committed to social engagement and intervention which bursts with potential." --Paul Hoggett, Professor Emeritus, University of the West of England"Psychosocial studies can be seen as a crucial antidote to the current tendency to fragment research and interventions at the expense of both the individual and society. This book is an important reminder of the ethical responsibility to develop relevant research methods as well as an exceptionally useful handbook regarding how to do such important and valuable work." --Marilyn Charles, Austen Riggs Centre, Massachusetts

• ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSABOUT THE EDITORS AND CONTRIBUTORSINTRODUCTION: Researching beneath the surface—a continuing journeyPART I: KNOWINGCHAPTER ONE"As easy as to know . . .": on the tensions between psychoanalysis and psychosocial researchJem ThomasCHAPTER TWOThe researcher’s subjectivity as a research instrument: from intuition to surrenderLita Crociani-WindlandCHAPTER THREELeaders and their relation to natureRembrandt ZegersPART II: DOINGCHAPTER FOURResearching powerful people: the experience of having access to themLouisa Diana BrunnerCHAPTER FIVE"Every human being is an artist": from social representation to creative experiences of selfJulian ManleyCHAPTER SIXProspects for the Listening Post as a psycho-social methodologyAnne-Marie CumminsPART III: EXPERIENCINGCHAPTER SEVENThe challenges of being a mature doctoral student: the supportive role of vertical and lateral third spacesRose Redding MerskyCHAPTER EIGHTMarkers and milestones: learning to navigate the psycho-social research journeyJane WoodendCHAPTER NINEFinding "self" when looking for "other": intrasubjectivity in the research encounterNadine Riad Tchelebi