Unraveling change in therapy: Three different process research methodologies

In response to repeated calls for process research on couple and family the rapy, three different process research methodologies - grounded theory, cha nge events analysis, and experimental manipulation - are presented and eval uated. A process research conceptual framework outlining some of the import ant issues in process research is presented. To illustrate each methodology , three completed process studies are briefly described, and a sample of re sults is provided. The strengths and weaknesses of each methodology are dis cussed, along with their role in generating and testing clinically relevant change theories, It is argues that each of these methodologies can provide researcher with important tools for unraveling the processes of change in couple and family therapy and should be used more frequently.