How is 'communicative openness' experienced in post-adoption contact

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  How is the concept of 'communicative openness' explored, and meanings evolved, for those with experience of post-adoption contact interactions?

• IRAS ID

  237523

• Contact name

  Lesley Storey

• Contact email

  l.storey@qub.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Queen's University Belfast

• Duration of Study in the UK

  1 years, 8 months, 26 days

• Research summary

  The study aims to explore the interactions,processes and dynamics (communicative openness) that exist between the various stakeholders within the adoption process, and how these help or hinder stakeholders to openly communicate about birth family.
  
  Appropriate research attention has been given to considering birth family contact from the perspectives of adopted children and to a lesser extent adoptive parents. Given the importance placed on post-adoption contact, it is imperative that research attention is given to understanding what helps everybody in the adoption process talk about birth family contact. Given that this area has never been considered before, the study proposes that this can only be achieved through a methodology that addresses the systematic process of contact interactions and allows for theory development. Consequently the study proposes to use a Grounded Theory methodology. At this preliminary stage the study proposes that adoptive parents, adults who were adopted as children, birth parent(s), social workers, and other social care staff involved in supporting contact will be interviewed. The study acknowledges that other stakeholders may emerge during data analysis. Interviewees will be provided with a choice of interview location; School of Psychology (QUB), Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (BHSCT) location(s) and their own home.

  It is hoped that the emerging theory from the study can be used to guide professionals, birth parents, adopted children and adoptive parents through this complex and emotionally heightened interaction

• REC name

  HSC REC A

• REC reference

  18/NI/0024

• Date of REC Opinion

  5 Mar 2018

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion