Being Able to Learn: Researching the History of a Therapeutic Community

This article uses grounded theory methods to research the history of a therapeutic community and highlights the possibilities of ‘being able to learn’ as an aim for history of medicine research. For this case study, processes of research and learning allow consideration of the ‘dilemma of paternalism’ and the interaction between history, policy and practice. How can students enter into discourses about learning? How could this discourse help to make university systems of administration and assessment provide a more appropriate environment for staff and students to ‘be able to learn’?