Narrative Portraits in Qualitative Research offers an analytical approach to qualitative data. Through narrative portraiture, research findings can be contextualised in broader social narratives without losing sight of the unique personal qualities of the research encounter.
Drawing a parallel between the artistic work of a portrait maker in depicting a subject – sometimes an object – and the work of the researcher in exploring people’s experiences, narrative portraiture invites a close-up into a person’s narrated and embodied experience and argues that one of the main research findings in qualitative research is the person themselves; their circumstances, and their life story. The book proposes four approaches to narrative portraiture: (1) a systematic approach to narrative analysis, (2) the use of phronesis in narrative portraiture, (3) the concept of ‘imagined portraits’ as a collaborative approach between visual arts and social sciences, and (4) the use of ‘performative portraits’ both as an analytic tool and product for research communication. This book will help qualitative researchers create first-person narratives that will give a glimpse into the participants’ lives in a way that is simultaneously deep, concise, and evocative.
This book will be suitable for those interested in narrative methods and qualitative research in health care, education, and the social sciences.
Introduction, 1. A Systematic Approach to Narrative Portraiture, 2. The Use of Phronesis in Narrative Portraiture, 3. Imagined Portraits, 4. Performative Portraits, Conclusion
Biography
Edgar Rodríguez-Dorans is a qualitative researcher and mental health practitioner. He studies identities, sexualities, the everyday lives of LGBTQIA+ people, and the use of performing arts in research. He completed a PhD in Counselling Studies at the University of Edinburgh and is a Lecturer in Counselling & Psychotherapy at the University of Salford.
"Narrative portraits in Qualitative Research is an innovative, emerging approach that gives qualitative researchers an additional way to engage with their data creatively. For me, this approach enabled me to structure the complexity of participants’ lives who joined my studies and ‘do my data justice’. It allowed me to recreate participants’ lived experiences meaningfully. Participants also indicated that this approach helped them to revoice themselves as they wanted to be seen; nothing has been suppressed nor omitted. This opinion resonates with my academic peers, who found this approach thought-provoking since it positions participants at the centre of the study. Each chapter provides clear, easy-to-follow guidelines for the readers to follow Edgar’s thoughts and shows how he has immersed in the data that result in the final products. The clear guidelines will be helpful for any readers who want to recreate their data with any approach that Narrative Portraits offer." -- Dr Tharin Phenwan, Lecturer in Health Sciences, University of Dundee, UK
