Page 53 - ART FORM AND MENTAL HEALTH - Ingrid Pénzes

Analysis
In all three studies, data was analysed by the coding principles of grounded theory (Corbin & Strauss, 2008), commonly used in focus group methodology (Barbour, 2007).
Open coding was applied in Study 1. The preliminary categories of material interaction as they emerged in the previous study (Pénzes, et al., 2014) functioned as sensitizing concepts: movement, dynamic, space, tempo, pressure, lining, shaping, repetition and control. Sensitizing concepts are starting points to build on analysis, which deepens the perception of data (Charmaz, 2003). Codes were re-coded if they did not fit into these preliminary categories. Then, all codes were clustered into final categories by axial coding. Some codes referred to specific behaviour such as scratching, touching, pushing, erasing, moving. Others referred to dimensions of these specific behaviours such as gentle, precisely, withholding, cautious, large, small and forceful. These ‘dimensional’ codes were used in axial coding to describe these categories.
The transcribed data of the focus group in Study 2 was also axial coded. All input related to the definition and content of the separate categories was categorised. Attention was paid to adjustments and additions of the categories and possible new categories. This led to final categories and descriptions and the emergence of main and subcategories. Selective coding was used to see how main and subcategories were interconnected, which core category could be constructed and which information this provided for the art therapy assessment.
In Study 3, the categories of material interaction as developed in Study 2 were used as analysing concepts in axial coding of the data regarding the style of material interaction. Selective coding was used to analyse the relationship between the formal elements of the art product, material interaction and clients’ characteristics. These findings were compared to the original case descriptions in Table 2.
Criteria of quality
To enhance the quality of research several techniques were applied to meet the criteria for trustworthiness (Creswell, 1998; Creswell & Miller, 2000; Denzin & Lincoln, 2005; Lincoln & Guba, 1985). Theoretical sampling has been applied to compose the focus groups of Study 2 and 3 to ensure that diverse perspectives on art therapy assessment have been incorporated. The participants of Study 1 were asked to answer general questions such
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