Delusions and Qualitative Confusions: A Dialogic Collaborative Exploration

In this article we describe the application of a dialogic collaborative process (DCP) to the exploration of issues arising from our own interview-based research in populations prone to delusions. We used the DCP to investigate and develop a shared understanding of ethical and epistemological tensions and their potential influence on the research process. Although our meaning making involved agreement to disagree in relation to specific issues, we are united in the view that full reporting and individual and team reflexivity are the hallmarks of quality for research with these populations. In a context in which qualitative research is increasingly conducted by multidisciplinary and hierarchical teams, we take the view that the DCP offers an effective and efficient means to construct evidence-based knowledge. However, we caution that to maximize benefits, the process must be underpinned by individual and collective active self-awareness and clarity about the commitment of each participant in the dialogue.