Walk and draw: a methodology to investigate subjective wellbeing
Author
Treadaway, Cathy
Prytherch, David
Coles, R.
Millman, Z.
Date
2013Type
Other
Publisher
Birmingham City University
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
This paper presents recently completed AHRC funded research investigating
walking and self-narration as a methodology for revealing insights into
individual and community wellbeing. Shared flows and connections,
illuminated through 'in the moment' personal reflection via spoken words and
drawings, have been used to inform knowledge concerning personal and
cultural wellbeing of the participant groups.
The paper describes two complementary interventions: one in which the
participants were drawn from a Somali immigrant community and the other an
'expert group' of artists. In particular, this paper focuses specifically on
walking combined with visual self-narration and the ways in which drawn
representation can reveal hidden thoughts, memories and emotions, which
are palpable and yet difficult to articulate through words.
A qualitative research methodology is described in which data was gathered
through audio and video recordings of activities as well as participant
sketchbooks and communal drawings. Two investigations are presented: a
participant group for whom drawing is not a familiar narrative tool and an
expert group of artists for whom drawing is a natural language. Both studies
reveal how walking and drawing narratives are able to articulate difficult and
deeply embedded emotional connections and thereby support subjective
wellbeing.
Citation
Treadaway, C., Prytherch, D., Coles, R. & Millman, Z. (2013). Walk and draw: a methodology to investigate subjective wellbeing. In: COLES, R. (ed.) Wellbeing 2013. Birmingham City University: Birmingham, UK
Sponsorship
Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
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