From Subject to Subjectivities profiles the recent debates about the role of qualitative and participatory methods in psychology, a discipline which has traditionally seen itself as a form of positivistic science. Contributors explain how fundamentally different views of the nature of reality and of scientific theory have shaped these debates, and how psychology is being transformed through the use of these methods. At the heart of the book are 10 exemplars of interpretive and participatory action research which describe the rationale for and process of using these methods in actual cases. They also articulate some of the challenges psychologists may face in adopting them, offering insights into how these complications can be successfully negotiated. Relevant beyond psychology, the models provided can be used within the context of a wide array of social science disciplines, from sociology and anthropology to women's studies and public health. The contributors represent a veritable "who's who" of qualitative scholars, including Lyn Mikel Brown, Larry Davidson, Michelle Fine, Louise Kidder, M. Brinton Lykes, Jeanne Marecek, Abigail Stewart, and Niobe Way. No previous book has examined qualitative and participatory methods specifically within the context of psychology. From Subjects to Subjectivities provides a unique and badly needed resource for those interested in learning about the practice of these methods in the field.

New Zealand historians -- many of whom have served as policy-makers and workers in social services, and most of whom are children of the welfare state they investigate -- discuss such aspects of social policy as welfare, the voluntary sector, and the government, the administration of old-age pensions to 1938, and government reporting on Maori aspirations and treaty meanings.

The Plunket Society, founded in 1907, has been heralded as New Zealand's most successful and famous voluntary organisation. Run by women for women, it played a vital role in the care of mothers and babies for most of the twentieth century, becoming a national and international icon. A Voice for Mothers, this comprehensive history of Plunket, covers three broad themes: the relationship between the voluntary sector and the State in the provision of welfare, the development of paediatrics, and the relationship between health providers and their clients, the mothers. Bryder stresses, in particular, infant health and welfare, the political pressures applied by the government and medical profession, the influence of the remarkable women who shaped the fortunes of the society, and its diminishing impact in recent years. She also compares New Zealand's experience with other countries like Australia and Britain, and outlines the philosophy behind the organisation.

Contemporary theories about oral history as well as practical strategies for conducting oral history research are included in this collection of essays. General issues that arise during oral history research are covered in detail, including navigating confidentiality issues, transcribing from oral interviews to written form, and handling unique situations for populations such as indigenous peoples whose history may not have been recorded previously. Particular case studies highlight the rewards and challenges of documenting oral histories and offer insight into the kinds of marginalized experiences that can find voice through this research: productions of an amateur dramatic society, stories from a victim of child abuse, and the life stories of two lesbians.