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Professor Carla Willig

Professor of Psychology

School of Arts and Social Sciences Department of Psychology

Contact details

Address

Professor Carla Willig D433, Rhind Building
City, University of London
Northampton Square
London EC1V 0HB
United Kingdom

About

Overview

Professor Carla Willig graduated from the University of Manchester in 1986. She then embarked upon postgraduate studies at the University of Cambridge where she was awarded an MPhil in Criminology in 1987. She stayed at Cambridge in order to conduct her doctoral research into the 'Social Construction of AIDS Knowledge' which she completed in 1991.

Professor Willig has held teaching positions at the University of Plymouth (1991-93) Middlesex University (1993-99) and City University London (1999 onwards). From 2001, she undertook additional training at Regents College, London, and qualified as an Existential Counselling Psychologist in 2005.

Specialisms: Qualitative Research Methods; Existential Counselling Psychology

Professor Willig's research interests include qualitative research methodology and its application to health and counselling psychology research. She is interested in the relationship between discourse and experience, and the development of innovative research methods with which to investigate and theorise this relationship. This is linked to her interest in existential approaches to psychotherapy and counselling.
A major theme in her work to date has been a concern with research methodology. She has published empirical and theoretical papers and book chapters concerned with epistemological and methodological questions. She is the editor of 'Applied Discourse Analysis. Social and Psychological Interventions' (1999) published by Open University Press and the author of the best-selling textbook 'Introducing Qualitative Research in Psychology. Adventures in Theory and Method' (2001, 2008, 2013, Open University Press), a fourth edition of which is due to be published in 2021 (McGraw Hill/ Open University Press). She is the editor (with Wendy Stainton-Rogers) of the 'The SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Research in Psychology', first published in 2008, with a second edition in 2017.
She is the author of 'Qualitative Interpretation and Analysis in Psychology' (2012, McGraw Hill/ Open University Press) which is concerned with the theoretical, practical and ethical challenges associated with the use of interpretation in qualitative research.
Professor Willig is an associate editor of the Journal of Health Psychology, a member of the editorial board of Qualitative Research in Psychology, and a member of the International Advisory Board of the Journal of Psychological Therapies.
She is a member of the British Psychological Society including full membership of the Division of Health Psychology and the Division of Counselling Psychology. She is also registered with the Health and Care Professions Council and is a member of the International Society of Critical Health Psychology and the Society for Existential Analysis.

Teaching

Undergraduate

- Qualitative Research Methods

Postgraduate

- Existential Approaches to Counselling Psychology
- Qualitative Research Methods

Research

Professor Willig's research interests include qualitative research methodology and its application to health and counselling psychology research. She is interested in the relationship between discourse and health related practices. She is also interested in phenomenological research methods and the exploration of the meanings and quality of embodied experiences. This is linked to her interest in existential approaches to psychotherapy and counselling.

A major theme in her work to date has been a concern with research methodology. She has published empirical and theoretical papers and book chapters concerned with epistemological and methodological questions. She is the editor of 'Applied Discourse Analysis. Social and Psychological Interventions' (1999) published by Open University Press and the author of the best selling textbook 'Introducing Qualitative Research in Psychology. Adventures in Theory and Method' (2001, 2008, Open University Press), a third edition of which is due to be published in 2013 (McGraw Hill/ Open University Press). She is the editor (with Wendy Stainton-Rogers) of the 'The SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Research in Psychology' (2008).

Professor Willig's most recent book is concerned with the theoretical, practical and ethical challenges associated with the use of interpretation in qualitative research ('Qualitative Interpretation and Analysis in Psychology', 2012).

Professor Willig is an associate editor of the Journal of Health Psychology. She is a member of the British Psychological Society including full membership of the Division of Health Psychology and the Division of Counselling Psychology. She is also registered with the Health Professions Council and is a member of the International Society of Critical Health Psychology.

Publications

Publications by category

Books (9)

  1. Willig, C. (2020). Foreword. ISBN 978-1-138-49180-9.
  2. Willig, C. (2012). Foreword. ISBN 978-0-203-82904-2.
  3. Willig, C. (2012). Qualitative Interpretation And Analysis In Psychology. McGraw-Hill Education (UK). ISBN 978-0-335-24141-5.
  4. Willig, C. (2008). Introducing qualitative research in psychology. Open University Press. ISBN 978-0-335-22115-8.
  5. Willig, C. and Rogers, W.S. (2008). The SAGE handbook of qualitative research in psychology. Sage Publications Ltd. ISBN 978-1-4129-0780-4.
  6. Marks, D., Murray, M., Evans, B., Willig, C., Woodall, C. and Sykes, C. (2005). Health psychology. Sage Publications Ltd. ISBN 978-1-4129-0337-0.
  7. Willig, C. (2001). Qualitative Research In Psychology: A Practical Guide to Theory and Method. Buckingham: OUP.
  8. Marks, D., Murray, M., Evans, B. and Willig, C. (2000). Health psychology. Sage Publications Ltd. ISBN 978-1-4129-0337-0.
  9. Willig, C. (1999). Applied discourse analysis. Open Univ Pr. ISBN 978-0-335-20226-3.

Chapters (14)

  1. Willig, C. and Billin, A. (2011). Existentialist-informed Phenomenology. In Harper, D. and Thompson, A.R. (Eds.), Qualitative Research Methods in Mental Health and Psychotherapy Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN 978-0-470-66370-7.
  2. Willig, C. and Billin, A. (2011). Existentialist-Informed Hermeneutic Phenomenology. In Harper, D. and Thompson, A.R. (Eds.), Qualitative Research Methods in Mental Health and Psychotherapy: A Guide for Students and Practitioners (pp. 117–130). Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN 978-0-470-66373-8.
  3. Willig, C. (2008). Discourse Analysis. In Smith, J.A. (Ed.), Qualitative psychology Sage Publications Ltd. ISBN 978-1-4129-3083-3.
  4. Willig, C. and Drury, J. (2004). Acting With: Partisan Participant Observation As a Social Practice Basis For Shared Knowledge. In Paré, D.A. and Larner, G. (Eds.), Collaborative practice in psychology and therapy Routledge. ISBN 978-0-7890-1785-7.
  5. Willig, C. (2004). Discourse Analysis and Health Psychology. In Murray, M. (Ed.), Critical health psychology Palgrave MacMillan. ISBN 978-0-333-99034-6.
  6. Willig, C. (2003). Discourse Analysis. In Smith, J.A. (Ed.), Qualitative psychology Sage Publications Ltd. ISBN 978-0-7619-7231-0.
  7. Willig, C. (2002). A Discourse Dynamic Approach to the Study of Subjectivity. In Marks, D. (Ed.), The health psychology reader Sage Publications Ltd. ISBN 978-0-7619-7271-6.
  8. Willig, C. (2001). En Kritisk Realistik Ansats Pa Socialt Konstruktionistisk Arbete. Socialkonstruktionistisk psykologi ISBN 978-91-44-01587-3.
  9. Willig, C. (1999). Beyond Appearances: A Critical Realist Approach to Social Constructionist Work in Psychology. In Nightingale, D.J. and Cromby, J. (Eds.), Social constructionist psychology Open Univ Pr.
  10. Willig, C. (1998). Social Constructionism and Revolutionary Socialism- A Contradiction in Terms ? In Parker, I. (Ed.), Social constructionism, discourse, and realism Sage Publications Ltd. ISBN 978-0-7619-5377-7.
  11. Willig, C. (1997). Trust As Risky Practice. In Segal, L. (Ed.), New sexual agendas NYU Press. ISBN 978-0-8147-8075-6.
  12. Willig, C. and Roiser, M. (1996). Marxism, the Frankfurt School and Working Class Psychology. In Parker, I. and Spears, R. (Eds.), Psychology and Society Pluto Pr. ISBN 978-0-7453-0879-1.
  13. Willig, C. (1994). Marital Discourse and Condom Use. In Aggleton, P. and Davies, P.M. (Eds.), AIDS: Foundations for the Future Taylor & Francis Group. ISBN 978-0-7484-0228-1.
  14. Willig, C. Perspectives on the Epistemological Bases for Qualitative Research. In Cooper, H. (Ed.), The Handbook of Research Methods in Psychology APA Handbook.

Conference paper/proceedings

  1. WILLIG, C. (1994). MARITAL DISCOURSE AND CONDOM USE.

Journal articles (51)

  1. Leonard, S.R.K. and Willig, C. (2021). The experience of living with very high empathy: A critical realist, pragmatic approach to exploring objective and subjective layers of the phenomenon. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 21(1), pp. 52–65. doi:10.1002/capr.12364.
  2. Dwan, C. and Willig, C. (2021). Existential uncertainty in health care: A concept analysis. Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice. doi:10.1111/jep.13536.
  3. Duff Gordon, C. and Willig, C. (2020). Surrender to win: Constructions of 12-step recovery from alcoholism and drug addiction. Health (United Kingdom). doi:10.1177/1363459320912837.
  4. Willig, C. (2020). From revision to transformation: Reflections on the impact of the review process across the qualitative/quantitative divide, g 202. QMiP Bulletin, (29).
  5. Willig, C. (2019). Ontological and epistemological reflexivity: A core skill for therapists. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 19(3), pp. 186–194. doi:10.1002/capr.12204.
  6. Willig, C. and Wirth, L. (2019). Liminality as a dimension of the experience of living with terminal cancer. Palliative and Supportive Care, 17(3), pp. 333–337. doi:10.1017/S1478951518000536.
  7. Willig, C. (2019). What Can Qualitative Psychology Contribute to Psychological Knowledge? Psychological Methods. doi:10.1037/met0000218.
  8. Willig, C. and Wirth, L. (2018). A meta-synthesis of studies of patients' experience of living with terminal cancer. Health Psychology, 37(3), pp. 228–237. doi:10.1037/hea0000581.
  9. Challenor, J., Edginton, T., Rafalin, D. and Willig, C. (2018). Call for support in university pensions dispute. Psychologist, 31(4), p. 2.
  10. Willig, C. (2017). Reflections on the use of object elicitation. Qualitative Psychology, 4(3), pp. 211–222. doi:10.1037/qup0000054.
  11. Wardley, M.N.J., Flaxman, P.E., Willig, C. and Gillanders, D. (2016). 'Feel the Feeling': Psychological practitioners' experience of acceptance and commitment therapy well-being training in the workplace. Journal of Health Psychology, 21(8), pp. 1536–1547. doi:10.1177/1359105314557977.
  12. Willig, C. (2016). Constructivism and ‘The Real World’: Can they co-exist? QMiP Bulletin.
  13. Josselin, D. and Willig, C. (2015). Making sense of self-injury: A pluralistic case-study. British Psychological Society, Counselling Psychology Section: Counselling Psychology Review, 30(4), pp. 5–15.
  14. Willig, C. (2015). "My bus is here": A phenomenological exploration of "living-with-dying". Health Psychology, 34(4), pp. 417–425. doi:10.1037/hea0000176.
  15. Willig, C. (2014). Assisted dying - choice and recognition. PSYCHOLOGIST, 27(11), pp. 806–806.
  16. Burbeck, R. and Willig, C. (2014). The personal experience of dysmenorrhoea: an interpretative phenomenological analysis. J Health Psychol, 19(10), pp. 1334–1344. doi:10.1177/1359105313490313.
  17. Kennedy, S., O'Higgins, S., Sarma, K., Willig, C. and McGuire, B.E. (2014). Evaluation of a group based cognitive behavioural therapy programme for menstrual pain management in young women with intellectual disabilities: Protocol for a mixed methods controlled clinical trial. BMC Women's Health, 14(1), pp. 1–10. doi:10.1186/1472-6874-14-107.
  18. Kennedy, S., O'Higgins, S., Sarma, K., Willig, C. and McGuire, B.E. (2014). Evaluation of a group based cognitive behavioural therapy programme for menstrual pain management in young women with intellectual disabilities: protocol for a mixed methods controlled clinical trial. BMC women's health, 14, p. 107. doi:10.1186/1472-6874-14-107.
  19. Josselin, D. and Willig, C. (2014). Layering the wounded self: Using a pluralistic qualitative approach to explore meaning-making around self-injury. QMiP Bulletin, 17(Spring).
  20. Willig, C. (2012). Escaping 'methodolatry' Qualitative Research Methods in Psychology: Combining Core Approaches Nollaig Frost. PSYCHOLOGIST, 25(5), pp. 373–373.
  21. Miller, E. and Willig, C. (2012). Pluralistic counselling and HIV-positive clients: The importance of shared understanding. European Journal of Psychotherapy & Counselling, 14(1), pp. 33–45. doi:10.1080/13642537.2012.652391.
  22. Willig, C. (2011). Significant processes in Action Research with a group of physiotherapists. British Psychological Society, Counselling Psychology Section: Counselling Psychology Review, 26(4), pp. 31–40.
  23. Willig, C. (2011). Cancer diagnosis as discursive capture: phenomenological repercussions of being positioned within dominant constructions of cancer. Soc Sci Med, 73(6), pp. 897–903. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2011.02.028.
  24. Willig, C. (2011). The Ethics of Interpretation. Existential Analysis, 22(2), pp. 255–271.
  25. Spivack, A. and Willig, C. (2010). 'There is a Battle Within Yourself’: Exploring the Experience of a Split Sense of Self Among Inpatients with Eating Disorders. Counselling Psychology Review, 25(4), pp. 7–18.
  26. Willig, C. (2009). 'Unlike a rock, a tree, a horse or an angel ...': reflections on the struggle for meaning through writing during the process of cancer diagnosis. J Health Psychol, 14(2), pp. 181–189. doi:10.1177/1359105308100202.
  27. Willig, C. (2008). A phenomenological investigation of the experience of taking part in 'extreme sports'. J Health Psychol, 13(5), pp. 690–702. doi:10.1177/1359105307082459.
  28. Paulson, S. and Willig, C. (2008). Older women and everyday talk about the ageing body. J Health Psychol, 13(1), pp. 106–120. doi:10.1177/1359105307084316.
  29. Mielewczyk, F. and Willig, C. (2007). Old Clothes and an Older Look. Theory & Psychology, 17(6), pp. 811–837. doi:10.1177/0959354307083496.
  30. Willig, C. (2007). Reflections on the Use of a Phenomenological Method. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 4(3), pp. 209–225. doi:10.1080/14780880701473425.
  31. Willig, C. (2007). Qualitative research - The need for system. PSYCHOLOGIST, 20(10), pp. 597–597.
  32. Sims-Schouten, W., Riley, S.C.E. and Willig, C. (2007). Critical Realism in Discourse Analysis. Theory & Psychology, 17(1), pp. 101–124. doi:10.1177/0959354307073153.
  33. Riley, S.C.E., Sims-Schouten, W. and Willig, C. (2007). The Case for Critical Realist Discourse Analysis as a Viable Method in Discursive Work. Theory & Psychology, 17(1), pp. 137–145. doi:10.1177/0959354307073156.
  34. Lavie, M. and Willig, C. (2005). “I Don’t feel like melting butter”: An interpretative phenomenological analysis of the experience of ‘inorgasmia’. Psychology & Health, 20(1), pp. 115–128. doi:10.1080/08870440412331296044.
  35. Gillies, V., Harden, A., Johnson, K., Reavey, P., Strange, V. and Willig, C. (2005). Painting Pictures of Embodied Experience: The Use of Non-Linguistic Data in the Study of Embodiment. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 2(3), pp. 199–213.
  36. Gillies, V., Harden, A., Johnson, K., Reavey, P., Strange, V. and Willig, C. (2005). Painting pictures of embodied experience: The use of nonverbal data production for the study of embodiment. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 2(3), pp. 199–212. doi:10.1191/1478088705qp038oa.
  37. Gillies, V., Harden, A., Johnson, K., Reavey, P., Strange, V. and Willig, C. (2004). Women's collective constructions of embodied practices through memory work: Cartesian dualism in memories of sweating and pain. Br J Soc Psychol, 43(Pt 1), pp. 99–112. doi:10.1348/014466604322916006.
  38. Sykes, C.M., Willig, C. and Marks, D.F. (2004). Discourses in the European Commission's 1996-2000 Health Promotion Programme. J Health Psychol, 9(1), pp. 131–141. doi:10.1177/1359105304036108.
  39. Roiser, M. and Willig, C. (2002). The strange death of the authoritarian personality: 50 years of psychological and political debate. History of the Human Sciences, 15(4), pp. 71–96. doi:10.1177/0952695102015004682.
  40. Willig, C. (2000). A discourse-dynamic approach to the study of subjectivity in health psychology. Theory and Psychology, 10(4), pp. 547–570. doi:10.1177/0959354300104006.
  41. Willig, C. (1999). Psychology and health promotion. J Health Psychol, 4(2), pp. 275–276. doi:10.1177/135910539900400202.
  42. Harden, A. and Willig, C. (1998). An Exploration of the Discursive Constructions used in Young Adults' Memories and Accounts of Contraception. Journal of Health Psychology, 3(3), pp. 429–445. doi:10.1177/135910539800300310.
  43. Willig, C. (1998). Constructions of sexual activity and their implications for sexual practice: lessons for sex education. J Health Psychol, 3(3), pp. 383–392. doi:10.1177/135910539800300307.
  44. Willig, C. (1998). Constructions of sexual activity and their implications for sexual practice. Journal of Health Psychology, 3(3), pp. 383–392. doi:10.1177/135910539800300307.
  45. GILLIES, V.A.L. and WILLIG, C. (1997). ‘You get the nicotine and that in your blood’—constructions of addiction and control in women's accounts of cigarette smoking. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology, 7(4), pp. 285–301. doi:10.1002/(sici)1099-1298(199709)7:43.0.co;2-n.
  46. Willig, C. (1997). The limitations of trust in intimate relationships: constructions of trust and sexual risk taking. Br J Soc Psychol, 36 ( Pt 2), pp. 211–221. doi:10.1111/j.2044-8309.1997.tb01128.x.
  47. (1997). The limitations of trust in intimate relationships: constructions of trust and sexual risk taking. The British journal of social psychology / the British Psychological Society, 36.
  48. Roiser, M. and Willig, C. (1995). The hidden history of authoritarianism. HISTORY OF THE HUMAN SCIENCES, 8(4), pp. 77–97. doi:10.1177/095269519500800405.
  49. AUBURN, T., DRAKE, S. and WILLIG, C. (1995). YOU PUNCHED HIM, DIDNT YOU - VERSIONS OF VIOLENCE IN ACCUSATORY INTERVIEWS. DISCOURSE & SOCIETY, 6(3), pp. 353–386. doi:10.1177/0957926595006003005.
  50. WILLIG, C. (1995). I WOULDNT HAVE MARRIED THE GUY IF ID HAVE TO DO THAT - HETEROSEXUAL ADULTS CONSTRUCTIONS OF CONDOM USE AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS FOR SEXUAL PRACTICE. JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY & APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, 5(2), pp. 75–87. doi:10.1002/casp.2450050202.
  51. WILLIG, C. (1992). ASSUMPTIONS IN PEOPLES TALK ABOUT AIDS. JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY & APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, 2(3), pp. 217–221. doi:10.1002/casp.2450020306.