Associate Professor Merrill Turpin
Associate Professor

Merrill Turpin

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 56491

Background

Dr Turpin’s research centres on the clinical/professional reasoning of occupational therapists across the spectrum of experience from new graduates to experts, as well as the subjective experiences of people with disabilities. She specialises in the use of qualitative research methods and uses a variety of qualitative research methods in her own research, as well advising others on these research methods. Dr Turpin has written books and book chapters on occupational therapy models of practice, evidence-based practice, and clinical reasoning, as well as publications on various aspects of people's experience. Dr Turpin has been a teaching and research academic at The University of Queensland for more than 30 years. The connection between theory and practice is central to her research and teaching. As occupational therapists attend to both thinking and experience, they need to use rigorous thinking and a deep understanding of human experience in their practice.

Availability

Associate Professor Merrill Turpin is:
Available for supervision

Fields of research

Clinical sciences Health Sciences

Research interests

  • Qualitative Research Methodology

    My main interest is in selecting the best qualitative methodologies for addressing the research questions that have been posed. Different methodologies attend to and prioritise certain aspects of phenomena and ways of understanding them. Consequently, choosing appropriate qualitative research methodologies from the plethora of those available is essential for guiding the research in a fruitful direction, but can be difficult. Often researchers become wedded to certain methodologies because they are familiar with them. Having a deep understanding of the ontological and epistemological assumptions underlying a range of qualitative research methodologies, as well as their unique goals and focus, provides the basis for well-reasoned decisions about research methodology.

  • Disability - experience and participation

    Occupational therapists are concerned with understanding people's experiences of everyday life and promoting their participation in society by identifying and overcoming barriers and building on existing strengths. My research attends to both understanding experience and promoting participation of people with a range of disabilities. Examples include understanding the everyday lives of people experiencing Multiple Sclerosis fatigue and the experiences of and barriers encountered by travellers with vision or mobility impairments.

  • Occupational Therapy clinical and professional reasoning

    Occupational therapists need to make well-reasoned decisions about the actions they take in practice. My research into the clinical and professional reasoning of occupational therapists has spanned three decades. I have written books, book chapters and journal articles on the occupational therapy practice models that guide occupational therapists in their practice; the process they use when combining disparate information, including research evidence and knowledge of their clients' experiences and circumstances; how they learn to reason as new graduates; and how students learn and can be supported to learn clinical and professional reasoning during their professional practice placements. I also have a sustained commitment to the continued development of the Student Practice Evaluation Form (SPEF, 1997; SPEF-R, 2008, SPEF-R2, 2019), a student professional practice evaluation tool that has consistently been used throughout Australia and in some countries overseas.

Research impacts

Dr Turpin works closely with Queensland Heath regarding supporting the clinical reasoning of occupational therapists with a range of experience. She also works with a range of organisations to use personal and occupational therapy understandings to improve the lives of people with Disabilities.

Search Professor Merrill Turpin’s works on UQ eSpace

117 works between 1997 and 2025
All (117) Journal Article (75) Book Chapter (15) Conference Publication (24) Book (2) Other Outputs (1)

21 - 40 of 117 works

2021

Conference Publication

Intentional strengths interviewing: supporting the participation of potentially vulnerable participants in qualitative health research

Crawford, Emma and Turpin, Merrill June (2021). Intentional strengths interviewing: supporting the participation of potentially vulnerable participants in qualitative health research. 20th Annual Thinking Qualitatively Virtual Conference, Virtual, 5-9 July 2021. London, United Kingdom: Sage Publications.

Intentional strengths interviewing: supporting the participation of potentially vulnerable participants in qualitative health research

2021

Journal Article

Afflexivity in post-qualitative inquiry: prioritising affect and reflexivity in the evaluation of a health information website

Setchell, Jenny, Olson, Rebecca, Turpin, Merrill, Costa, Nathalia, Barlott, Tim, O’Halloran, Kate, Wigginton, Britta and Hodges, Paul (2021). Afflexivity in post-qualitative inquiry: prioritising affect and reflexivity in the evaluation of a health information website. Health Sociology Review, (3), 1-16. doi: 10.1080/14461242.2021.1976068

Afflexivity in post-qualitative inquiry: prioritising affect and reflexivity in the evaluation of a health information website

2021

Journal Article

The clinical challenges experienced by new graduate occupational therapists: a matrix review

Moir, Elizabeth M. A., Turpin, Merrill J. and Copley, Jodie A. (2021). The clinical challenges experienced by new graduate occupational therapists: a matrix review. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 88 (3), 84174211022880-213. doi: 10.1177/00084174211022880

The clinical challenges experienced by new graduate occupational therapists: a matrix review

2021

Book Chapter

Occupational therapy models of practice

Turpin, Merrill and García, Jenniffer (2021). Occupational therapy models of practice. Occupational therapy in Australia: professional and practice issues. (pp. 213-225) edited by Ted Brown, Helen M. Bourke-Taylor, Stephen Isbel, Reinie Cordier and Louise Gustafsson. Abingdon, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom: Taylor & Francis.

Occupational therapy models of practice

2021

Journal Article

Evidence‐based practice and clinical reasoning in occupational therapy: a cross‐sectional survey in Chile

Garcia, Jenniffer, Copley, Jodie, Turpin, Merrill, Bennett, Sally, McBryde, Catherine and McCosker, Josie Louise (2021). Evidence‐based practice and clinical reasoning in occupational therapy: a cross‐sectional survey in Chile. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 68 (2), 169-179. doi: 10.1111/1440-1630.12713

Evidence‐based practice and clinical reasoning in occupational therapy: a cross‐sectional survey in Chile

2021

Journal Article

Desiring occupation: theorising the passion, creativity, and social production of everyday life

Barlott, Tim and Turpin, Merrill (2021). Desiring occupation: theorising the passion, creativity, and social production of everyday life. Journal of Occupational Science, 29 (1), 1-11. doi: 10.1080/14427591.2020.1867226

Desiring occupation: theorising the passion, creativity, and social production of everyday life

2021

Journal Article

Development of the Student Practice Evaluation Form—Revised (Second Edition) (SPEF‐R2): The first action research cycle

Caine, Anne‐Maree, Copley, Jodie, Turpin, Merrill, Fleming, Jennifer and Herd, Chris (2021). Development of the Student Practice Evaluation Form—Revised (Second Edition) (SPEF‐R2): The first action research cycle. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 68 (1) 1440-1630.12702, 21-31. doi: 10.1111/1440-1630.12702

Development of the Student Practice Evaluation Form—Revised (Second Edition) (SPEF‐R2): The first action research cycle

2020

Journal Article

Learning thresholds for early career occupational therapists: a grounded theory of learning-to-practise

Murray, Carolyn M., Edwards, Ian, Jones, Mark and Turpin, Merrill (2020). Learning thresholds for early career occupational therapists: a grounded theory of learning-to-practise. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 83 (7), 469-482. doi: 10.1177/0308022619876842

Learning thresholds for early career occupational therapists: a grounded theory of learning-to-practise

Featured

2020

Journal Article

Destabilising social inclusion and recovery, and pursuing 'lines of flight' in the mental health sector: destabilising social inclusion and recovery

Barlott, Tim, Shevellar, Lynda, Turpin, Merrill and Setchell, Jenny (2020). Destabilising social inclusion and recovery, and pursuing 'lines of flight' in the mental health sector: destabilising social inclusion and recovery. Sociology of Health and Illness, 42 (6), 1328-1343. doi: 10.1111/1467-9566.13106

Destabilising social inclusion and recovery, and pursuing 'lines of flight' in the mental health sector: destabilising social inclusion and recovery

2020

Journal Article

Working with potential tensions in individual’s interactions with online consumer health education about back pain: Findings from a photo-elicitation and observational study

Setchell, Jenny, Turpin, Merrill, Costa, Nathalia and Hodges, Paul (2020). Working with potential tensions in individual’s interactions with online consumer health education about back pain: Findings from a photo-elicitation and observational study. JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies, 7 (1) e17130, e17130. doi: 10.2196/17130

Working with potential tensions in individual’s interactions with online consumer health education about back pain: Findings from a photo-elicitation and observational study

2019

Journal Article

The meaning of leisure to children and young people with significant physical disabilities: implications for optimising participation

Powrie, Benita, Copley, Jodie, Turpin, Merrill, Ziviani, Jenny and Kolehmainen, Niina (2019). The meaning of leisure to children and young people with significant physical disabilities: implications for optimising participation. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 83 (2), 030802261987907-77. doi: 10.1177/0308022619879077

The meaning of leisure to children and young people with significant physical disabilities: implications for optimising participation

2019

Journal Article

The dissident interview: a deterritorializing guerrilla encounter

Barlott, Tim, Shevellar, Lynda, Turpin, Merrill and Setchell, Jenny (2019). The dissident interview: a deterritorializing guerrilla encounter. Qualitative Inquiry, 26 (6), 107780041985904-660. doi: 10.1177/1077800419859041

The dissident interview: a deterritorializing guerrilla encounter

2019

Journal Article

Learning to interact and interacting to learn: a substantive theory of clinical workplace learning for diverse cohorts

King, Eva, Turpin, Merrill, Green, Wendy and Schull, Daniel (2019). Learning to interact and interacting to learn: a substantive theory of clinical workplace learning for diverse cohorts. Advances in Health Sciences Education, 24 (4), 691-706. doi: 10.1007/s10459-019-09891-8

Learning to interact and interacting to learn: a substantive theory of clinical workplace learning for diverse cohorts

2019

Journal Article

Am I being understood? Veterinary students' perceptions of the relationship between their language background, communication ability, and clinical learning

King, Eva, Henning, Joerg, Green, Wendy J., Turpin, Merrill J. and Schull, Daniel N. (2019). Am I being understood? Veterinary students' perceptions of the relationship between their language background, communication ability, and clinical learning. Journal of Veterinary Medical Education, 46 (1), 35-44. doi: 10.3138/jvme.0417-057r

Am I being understood? Veterinary students' perceptions of the relationship between their language background, communication ability, and clinical learning

2019

Book Chapter

Models of occupational therapy

De Jonge, Desleigh and Turpin, Merrill (2019). Models of occupational therapy. An occupational therapist’s guide to home modification practice. (pp. 41-61) edited by Elizabeth Ainsworth and Desleigh De Jonge. Thorofare, NJ United States: SLACK. doi: 10.4324/9781003525264-3

Models of occupational therapy

2019

Book Chapter

Models of occupational therapy

de Jonge, Desleigh and Turpin, Merrill (2019). Models of occupational therapy. An occupational therapists guide to home modification practice. (pp. 41-62) edited by Elizabeth Ainsworth and Desleigh de Jonge. Thorofare, NJ, United States: Slack .

Models of occupational therapy

2019

Book Chapter

Learning to use evidence to support decision making

Higgs, Joy and Turpin, Merrill (2019). Learning to use evidence to support decision making. Clinical reasoning in the health professions. (pp. 465-474) edited by Joy Higgs, Gail Jensen, Stephen Loftus and Nicole Christensen. London, United Kingdom: Elsevier.

Learning to use evidence to support decision making

2018

Book Chapter

Learning professional reasoning in practice through fieldwork

Turpin, Merrill and Hanson, Debra (2018). Learning professional reasoning in practice through fieldwork. Clinical and professional reasoning in occupational therapy. (pp. 439-460) edited by Barbara A. Boyt Schell and John W. Schell. Philadelphia, PA, United States: Wolters Kluwer.

Learning professional reasoning in practice through fieldwork

2018

Book Chapter

Interactive reasoning

Turpin, Merrill and Copley, Jodie (2018). Interactive reasoning. Clinical and professional reasoning in occupational therapy. (pp. 245-260) edited by Barbara A. Boyt Schell and John W. Schell. Philadelphia, PA, United States: Wolters Kluwer.

Interactive reasoning

2017

Journal Article

Práctica basada en evidencia en el área pediátrica en Chile, un desafío pendiente

García Rojas, Jenniffer, Copley, Jodie, Turpin, Merrill and Peña Jeldes, Natalia (2017). Práctica basada en evidencia en el área pediátrica en Chile, un desafío pendiente. Revista Chilena de Terapia Ocupacional, 17 (2), 57-68. doi: 10.5354/0719-5346.2017.48086

Práctica basada en evidencia en el área pediátrica en Chile, un desafío pendiente

Past funding

  • 2024
    Empowering Accessible Travel: An Evaluation of the `Access Accelerator¿ Program
    Spinal Life Australia
    Open grant
  • 2018
    Translating low back pain research: Identifying potential hidden harms in health messaging
    Arthritis Foundation of Australia
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    eSPEF-R Occupational Therapy Project
    Commonwealth Health Workforce Australia (HWA)
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2012
    Developing a clinical reasoning algorithm to guide MS fatigue rehabilitation interventions
    University of Illinois
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2014
    Development of tools for enhancing clinical reasoning of occupational therapy students and practitioners
    Occupational Therapists Board of Queensland
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2011
    Assisting allied health professionals to implement evidence: An OTSeeker initiative, 2008-2011
    University of Sydney
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2009
    Teaching clinical reasoning to Occupational Therpay students during Paediatric Clinical Fieldwork
    Occupational Therapists Board of Queensland
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2009
    Development of a Flexible Training Package for Clinical Educators Using the Student Placement Evaluation Form (SPEF)
    UQ Teaching & Learning Strategic Grants
    Open grant
  • 2001 - 2003
    An exlporation of self awareness of deficits by people with an Acquired Brain Injury
    UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund
    Open grant

Availability

Associate Professor Merrill Turpin is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The Impact of Community Training on Inclusion of People with Disabilities within the Community.

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Lynda Shevellar

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Occupational Therapy Practice in Intensive Care Units

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Jennifer Fleming

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Becoming an effective healthcare practitioner in the NDIS context

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Leander Mitchell, Professor Jodie Copley

  • Master Philosophy

    Co-designing allied health clinical pathways with frail vascular patients

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Kristiana Ludlow, Associate Professor Jacki Liddle

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Co-creating inclusive walking and running activities alongside young people with disabilities and their families: Participatory Action Research in a regional Australian community.

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Georgina Clutterbuck

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Exploration of the use of mental health services among international students in Australia

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Tomomi McAuliffe

Completed supervision

Enquiries

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