Four Qualitative Methods for Understanding Diverse Lives (academics) - Online

In this one-day online training workshop you will be introduced to four qualitative research methods to better understand diverse lives - Photo Go-Alongs, Collage, Life History Interviews and Participant Packs.

When researching social groups, researchers may focus on categories such as age, gender, sexuality and so on. These categories can turn catch-all terms into catch-all agendas. Treating groups of people with one shared characteristic as homogenous risks a cookie-cutter approach which overlooks diverse lives and needs. Given the complexity of what it means to be a person, a one-size fits all approach to engagement cannot suffice.

The methods introduced in this training workshop are beneficial in exploring diverse lives and can be used when researching with any group. 

The session is aimed at PhD students and academics of all career stages across the UK who want to better understand: 

• The specific place-based needs of people 
• The everyday practices of people
• The world from participants’ perspectives
• How to work with people in an inclusive and accessible way

This online training workshop will be structured as follows:  

• Introductions
• Origins and Approach 
• Methods deep dive: 
• Photo Go-Alongs
• Participant packs
• Collage 
• Life Histories 
• Workshops 
• Learnings and close 

By the end of the course participants will:

• Be able to think critically about how creative, participatory methods might be incorporated into their research and/ or teaching. 
• Have broadened their understanding of research methods from tools of data collection to techniques for capacity building.
• Have workshopped four qualitative methods for creatively engaging with people (Photo Go-Alongs, Collage, Life Histories and Participant packs).

This online training workshop will take place over the course of one day between 10:00 and 16:00, with 1 hour for lunch between 12:30 and 13:30.