1. Innovative Methods in Studying Stress

2. Exploring Stress: Methods and Measurement Why is the measurement of stress so important? Different methods for measuring stress Audio diaries

3. Is anyone feeling ‘stressed’? What do you understand by the term ‘stress’? Under what circumstances do you feel ‘stressed’?

4. Clarifying the term ‘Stress’ NOT ALL STRESS IS BAD Stress is: – “arousal” - ANY stimulus, event or demand impacting on the sensory nervous system – a subjective experience (in the eye of the beholder) – an imbalance between ‘perceived demand’ and ‘perceived ability’ to meet that demand – Stress is unwanted pressure Pressure vs. Stress? It is MISMANAGED stress which is damaging in its consequences (Arnold et al, 2005; HSE, 2010)

5. What is stress? When the demands made of the individual do not match the resources available (in the person or provided by the organisation) or do not meet the individual’s needs and motivation

6. How should organisations or individuals ‘measure’ stress? How do you decide if you are feeling stressed? How do you evidence stress in other people? How do you determine if an organisation has a problem with work- related stress?

7. The typical stress measurement technique… Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree I am concerned that my workload is too heavy 12345 My manager is not supportive 12345 I feel unable to cope with the demands placed on me 12345

8. A Stress Diary… Spend TWO minutes writing about your experiences of things that could cause you to feel stressed. Think about your time in work today….

9. Qualitative vs Quantitative Is it easier to reflect on your own stress through a numerical scoring system or through unstructured qualitative narrative? Which do you prefer and why? How easy or difficult was it to write about your thoughts relating to stress?

10. Methodological Pluralism in Stress Research Some fundamental assumptions about stress: -It is fluid and changeable -It is process-orientated -It is context-bound -The way that we ‘construct’ it and make sense of it is an individual process -Editing our accounts: the need for spontaneity and ease

11. Audio Diaries Audio diaries involve the audio recording of participants’ responses and reflections over a period of time (Buchanan, 1991) Enables the accessing sense-making in periods of change and flux, and allows the researcher to capture phenomena as they unfold, thus increasing immediacy and accuracy of data capture (Monrouxe, 2009). They are often considered as favourable to their written counterparts due to the additional benefits for the participant, such as an ease in completion and lower levels of attrition (Markham & Couldry, 2007).

12. Figure 1: Conceptual Framework Rationale for Methodological Pluralism in Stress Research Capturing: Process orientation of stress Relational meaning, appraisal and coping Via: Level of Analysis (momentary and retrospective accounts; inter and intra individual; holistic and microanalytic) Relevance of Audio Medium Verbalization Sense-making Cognitive Restructuring Self-talk Illumination of Coping Complexity Relevance of Qualitative Diary Medium Discursive and Narrative Inter and Intra Design Overcoming reliance on retrospective accounts Measurement of context and fluidity Transitional Complementary to other methodologies Proposed Methodological Contribution

13. Figure 2: Framework for the use of audio diaries in work psychology Research Context and Purpose: Process Exploratory Fluidity Transitional Participant-led Design Choices: Mixed methodology or stand alone Position within study phases Prompts and structure Heterogeneity of sample Criteria for inclusion Technological opportunities Reminders Researcher involvement /proximity Analytical Framework: Idiographic/nomothetic Approach (narrative, discourse, thematic, template etc) Presenting /constructing results Challenges For the Researcher Rehearsal as impeding immediacy Attrition and Incompletion Managing variation in recording length For the Participant Privacy (cf written diary) Setting context Coherence in narration Confidence Authenticity Adjustment to recording process Contribution and Opportunities For the Researcher Eliciting complexity and nuance Bridging gap between multi-methodological designs Emergence of new stressors/phenomenon Overcoming reliance on retrospective accounts For the Participant Spontaneity/instantaneous Ease Privacy (cf. written diary)

14. Key Findings. Illustrates the importance of verbalisation in documenting stress and affective experience, and as a mechanism for accessing cognitive processes in making sense of such experience Compares audio diaries with more traditional qualitative methods to assess applicability to different research contexts Provides practical guidance and a methodological framework for the design of audio diary research and design, taking into account challenges and solutions for researchers and practitioners.