Harnessing Creativity and Authenticity in The Qualitative Inquisition
Applying Creativity in Qualitative Methods Research
“Whatever anyone does or says, for my part I’m bound to the good. In the same way an emerald or gold or purple might always proclaim: ‘whatever anyone does or says, I must be what I am and show my true colors.”
– Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 7.15
ATTN qualitative Inquisitor,
Welcome back to the Fifth Edition of The Qualitative Inquisition!
Happy July! We are now past mid-summer, and mid-year.
We can take a moment to reflect on our productivity, accomplishments and goals for the remainder of the year.
July is also National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month and Disability Pride Month in America. I hope we took the time to reflect on inclusive practices for people with “invisible” and “visible” disabilities, and the intersectionality of these challenges for minorities during this month.
I recognize I missed the issue from June. I’ll make it up to you!
Unfortunately, I was tied up with a few different challenges and some travels during June. So, while this July issue also comes later than intended, I do have some positive motivations to hit refresh and to continue building a community with you in this Qualitative Inquisition venture! It is important to keep a positive Limitless mindset!
I decided to personalize this issue more than the other editions, given some important milestones this month, and with some personal updates at the end. I appreciate you reading!
In the previous issue, I expanded on the conversation of storytelling in reference to the intersection of journalism and qualitative research, highlighting how journalistic techniques can enrich qualitative investigations and vice versa. I will continue to share insights on journalism within qualitative research in future editions.
For the moment, I’d like to take this edition to explore the significance and role of creativity in qualitative social science research methods. I’d also like to briefly share how I manifest creativity in my research, life and academic endeavors. I hope to connect this to the notion of authenticity in academic professional spaces. I will certainly expand on “authenticity” in future writings and newsletters.
Room for Creativity in Qualitative Research
One incredibly rewarding part of the “Qualitative Inquisition” is the space it fosters to practice creativity of all forms. As I mentioned in the first edition, there is space for bending the rules through qualitative research. The creativity can lead to invigorating, honest, and bold conversations that bring greater value in the narratives we share with the world.
Multiple studies describe how creativity in qualitative methods can be incorporated through flexible and adaptive methodologies, artistic and reflective exercises, and a blend of mixed methods approaches. Creativity enhances the depth and richness of data collection and analysis.
We can “connect-the-dots” between creativity, art, and storytelling through qualitative research. These elements not only inform and improve our knowledge about our research topic, but also offer creative, cutting-edge, and innovative ways to present and interpret our findings.
Creativity in Research Design and Methodology
Incorporating creativity into research design and methodology can lead to innovative techniques and discoveries. Different methods can highlight the nuances and subtleties of the study participants' experiences that might be overlooked through traditional analysis. For instance, using creative writing techniques, such as poetry, fiction and non-fiction narratives, (as noted in previous newsletters) can offer fresh insights on the data and research question.
Some other examples of creative flexible, adaptive and mixed methodologies include case studies, grounded theory, ethnography, phenomenological research, and contemplative inquiry (Konecki, 2019). Case studies are foundational methods in qualitative inquiry, most frequently applied to help build creativity (Long, 2014). Grounded theory provides an alternative framework for incorporating creativity in qualitative research, harmonizing science and creativity (Bailey et al, 1999). Ultimately, creativity allows us to “break the rules,” with greater focus on the process and performance during analysis rather than the end result (Sacchetti, 2019).
Creative methodologies encourage researchers to think ‘outside the box’ and consider alternative ways of engaging with the research and participants and presenting findings, while enhancing the logic of qualitative research (Mason, 2006). The flexibility can result with more dynamic and holistic research outcomes. Techniques such as arts-based inquiry, performative methods, and digital storytelling can enrich the research process, providing a more complete, textured understanding of the study.
Art as a Medium for Data Representation
Qualitative methods can incorporate artful techniques to illuminate data collection processes as well as data analysis and results. These techniques can range from sculpting, photography, videography, painting, drawing, role playing, writing exercises, metaphors, and timelines (Deacon, 2000).
Art offers a unique medium, an “alternative aesthetic,” for visualizing and presenting qualitative data (Balmer, 2021). Visual arts, such as painting, drawing, and photography, have been used to illustrate themes and patterns in the data, making the findings more accessible and engaging to wider audiences. For example, a “painting with data” technique brings creativity and participation in the data analysis stage of research, challenging the “monochromatic palette” (Balmer, 2021). Artistic representations can provoke thoughts and evoke emotions, encouraging scholars and educators to engage with the research on a deeper level during the process, and employing a different lens that can reveal more valuable and unique insights than conventional methods.
Balancing Rigor and Creativity
It's essential to balance creativity with methodological rigor. Systemic application and transparency can help sustain credibility and trustworthiness of the research. Combining creativity with a grounded methodological foundation allows researchers to produce research that is both innovative and robust.
Strategies for maintaining this balance include triangulation, debriefing with peers and colleagues, and “member checking,” which means referring back to your research informants for confirmation of findings or use of references and quotes. This can help validate the findings and ensure that creative methods and techniques do not compromise the study's integrity, validity, reliability, and credibility.
It's also important to be reflective and critical about the use of creative methods, considering their appropriateness for the research questions and the ethical implications for our research subjects. Some creativity methods can help researchers to develop intuition in their qualitative inquiries, which allow them to detect potential biases through reflexive exercises that illustrate, describe, explain their roles in the research (Janesick, 2001). Methodical exercises like journal writing, poetry, art, meditation can support this critical reflexivity (Konecki, 2019).
Nurturing Creativity and Authenticity Beyond the Science
I value creativity and authenticity in my writing, professional, and academic endeavors. Because I wear multiple hats, as I shared in this medium post at the start of this year, I continue nurturing the creative within me, in all spaces.
I often advise other students and scholars to incorporate a non-academic hobby, especially PhD students during their rigorous academic study. My hobbies include creative writing and painting.
My journey with art, creative writing, and painting was rekindled and nurtured during my PhD program and has become an integral part of my life and academic pursuits, as I share in my Painting Heals Initiative, which I began last year. In this piece, I write about the purpose and the impact of the initiative.
While currently inactive for the past year, I plan to restart the initiative as circumstances permit in the near future, for the original charity auction.
Another way I connected my creativity outside the academic work, was by starting a personal blog, around the same time I rekindled my passion for painting. This space nurtured my creativity and authenticity during my doctorate studies. My personal blog is called, Chronicles of a Warrior KQueen, explores the themes of mental health, intersectionality, inclusion, empowerment, and various other social justice topics, while chronicling my personal and professional journey, with the objective to bring awareness and “cure” harmful social and cultural stigmas.
The blog also houses my creative writing projects, including my poetry and paintings. I am currently updating the website with additional paintings, pending projects, and other features.
In my own journey as an indie writer, artist, and painter, I found that integrating art into my research, advocacy, and professional life, allowed me to explore new dimensions of identity, expression, and relational dynamics.
As I note in this blog post, my indie painting auction also connected-the-dots for my passion for philanthropy. Many initial testimonials received last year included that it was a great effort and important initiative, and the donors appreciated the packaging and extra tokens/gifts as well! Now, with any charity I support (including raising funds for my recent travels), I aim to gift my donors with paintings.
Building Space for Authenticity
Creativity in qualitative research allows the opportunity to build spaces to uphold our authenticity and encourage belonging. I hope we can rebuild or bridge a necessary sense of community in a divided world, given all the challenging circumstances of today. This potential in social science is important to elevate in the qualitative methods community and beyond.
Art has the proven capacity to transcend language barriers and cultural differences, providing a universal medium to connect like-minded researchers and professionals, and communicate to a broader audience. Additionally, art-based methods can be powerful tools for data collection, prompting participants to express themselves authentically in ways that words alone might not capture.
A Big Thank You to My Supporters
I began this summer with two different domestic travel experiences which became opportunities for great reflection. Reflexivity is critical to harnessing our authenticity and creativity.
I first traveled to an academic conference as referenced in the last newsletter. The second trip was spending time with my family on the Eid holiday in my home-state Wisconsin. I was blessed to be with family in a different type of environment than I am accustomed to. Overall, June offered a much-needed change of environment for me to refresh and re-program the brain as I continue “turning the page.” A change of environment always fosters more room for creativity.
I made a short tribute video on YouTube and Instagram, about my experience at the Political Networks Conference in Tallahassee last month. I had a rewarding experience at the conference. My time at the conference helped me reflect on my next steps in my academic journey, and how I want to proceed based on all the different hats and spaces I occupy. It is a challenging politically charged climate especially for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) in the academic space. But I look forward to the different adventures emerging as I continue to explore the academic job market.
I intended to share and incorporate my creative side in the “Fund my Travel Campaign” this summer. While the painting incentives were not claimed, I do hope to provide a personalized letter of gratitude and a painting to all my donors by end of September.
Thank you once again to my crowdfunding campaign donors, for being a part of what I have called my “academic comeback journey.” I will keep the page active until the end of September. You can find more details at this link HERE.
Concluding Remarks
In these last few editions, I have written about the power of storytelling. Embracing creativity, art, and storytelling in qualitative research expands our research inquiries, allows for new possibilities, arguably making our work more engaging and impactful.
This is just the beginning. As we continue to explore these methods, we can push the boundaries of qualitative inquiry and reveal more innovative, and creative techniques to help us understand and solve pertinent problems.
I encourage, you, fellow qualitative Inquisitor, to also reflect on your own journey and experiences and share your creative practices in qualitative research. Please share your story and any thoughts with me along the way!
Personal Update – A Few Milestones and Celebrations
July is my favorite month, partly because it’s the birthday month!
Earlier this month (July 9!), I celebrated a milestone birthday:
I turned the BIG 40!
I shared this on social media, and you can read some personal reflections here on my Medium article HERE.
July has also become an important month to me because of a special milestone and achievement in my life.
Last week, July 23rd, I honored my three-year anniversary of achieving my doctorate degree. I hit refresh with the commemoration of that moment as well, watching my dissertation defense, which was an overwhelmingly emotional experience. I shared personal reflections about this moment on another Medium article HERE.
My doctoral studies were inherently independent, interdisciplinary, and allowed for the necessary flexibility and creativity I always aspired for in qualitative research. I will always be grateful to all those who supported me on that journey, as I share here.
Additionally, I wrote this blog piece connected to my dissertation a few months ago. While I find a home for some version of it, I have published it on my Medium as well. Please feel free to give it a read. I’d love any feedback as I advance the research!
I have a forthcoming YouTube video on my new PhD Journey Series of my Channel coming soon, which will share my reaction to watching my Defense. Last week was also my two-year anniversary of starting my YouTube Channel! Precisely one year ago, I started the PhD Journey series to share my journey and help others navigate PhD life.
I will continue to document my PhD and academic journey through my blogging and vlogging efforts through my YouTube Channel. I started my YouTube Channel two years ago on the one-year anniversary of my virtual doctoral defense, in part for a self-apprenticeship, similar to my blogs. And it has made a big difference in my creative and professional journey.
Please subscribe there as well if anything resonates! I do post a diverse array of content on the channel, including topics connected to my blogs, mental health, social justice, curing stigmas, empowerment, academia, and art.
As I mentioned earlier, I am making an effort to refresh this newsletter and try to share shorter and more frequent (twice a month or weekly) newsletters. My apologies, this newsletter is a bit longer because of the updates as well as missing a post for June!
I have created a Resources page for my newsletter, which will include a full bibliography of references I cite, plus a curated list of academic and professional development book recommendations I share in each edition. I won’t use in-text citations for every newsletter, but the reference page will be separate from these emails. A link for the Resources will be included in each edition going forward.
I would love to hear any feedback from you on these first five editions as I continue to develop and improve this newsletter, build community and collaboration with you, through “The Qualitative Inquisition.”
I also would like to embrace the community more on Substack for the remainder of the year!
Lastly, if you would like to learn more about my “Portfolio Life”, I have created a Linktree account HERE! You can find my full portfolio and a compilation of links here.
Cheers to embracing the 'portfolio life,' immersing our whole selves in every space, and harnessing our creativity, authenticity, and fullest potential!
Thank you once again for being a part of this journey with me!
Join The Qualitative Inquisition!
Thank you for joining me on this brief exploration of creativity in qualitative research. I hope to offer more insights about creativity, diversity, authenticity, and belonging in Academia in future editions!
And I’d love to hear from you!
I remain excited to explore the creative possibilities with The Qualitative Inquisition!
I hope you find inspiration in the approaches I explore for your own work!
Thank you for tuning in and have a great rest of the summer. I hope to see you in the next edition. In the meantime, stay Inquisitive!
In Solidarity,
Your fellow qualitative Inquisitor,
Dr. Elsa
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Top News Roundup
Elections…
It has been quite a year for Elections around the world!
Here are a few highlights from the past two months:
How France united, once more to defeat the far right
Labour Party wins a Landslide victory in the UK
Masoud Pezeshkian officially endorsed as the new President of Iran
U.S. President Joe Biden Steps Down – Vice President Kamala Harris most likely replacement
Attempted Assassination of Donald Trump
Other World News:
Israel-Gaza Genocide - No where safe in Gaza
Israel deliberately bombed 126 shelters in Gaza since October 7
The Golan Heights Attack - Escalation of Israel-Hezbollah Conflict
Pakistan declares Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “Terrorist”
Bangladesh Student Protests – Government Suppression and Violence
Afghanistan Peace - Progress towards International Coordination in Third Doha Meeting
Sudan’s Civil War leaving millions displaced as famine persists
July 2024 Hurricane Beryl Impact – Record High Temperatures in the Atlantic
Extreme Heat Advisories - Global Heat Wave – Record High Temperatures in America and Around the World
Yesterday, the United States held a National Day of Mourning for Sonya Massey.
Please feel free to read my article remembering Sonya Massey on Medium here.
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So… any Good News in the World right now?
World Court finds Israel - Apartheid State - with Historic ICJ Advisory Ruling
Congratulations SPAIN for winning the Euro World Cup!
HERE is a short Medium piece reflecting on my travels to Spain, 3 years ago, before I defended my doctoral dissertation!
Olympics 2024 in Paris, France! (Link here for their official website.)
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Academic Book Recommendation
Method Meets Art: Arts-based Research Practice, by Patricia Leavy
This book is the third edition of an award-winning text and it is currently on my list to read! One of my pending manuscripts is about arts-based research and pedagogy, and for community-based development in conflict-affected spaces. Should I teach a course on methods, one of my lectures would employ this reference!
Professional Development Book Recommendation
Feel Good Productivity: How to Do More of What Matters to You, by Ali Abdaal
Popular YouTuber and productivity expert, Ali Abdaal, discusses productivity, joy, play, and a positive mindset needed to accomplish your goals. I highly recommend this book to improve productivity and focus on the important things that bring you joy. I follow Ali on YouTube and if you haven’t already, please do! This book will help re-program and set yourself on the right path to meet your goals before the end of the year!
What have you been reading this Summer? Share in the comments!
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TRIVIA
Who is the influential educational theorist, celebrated for pioneering the concept of 'Artful Inquiry,' which integrates artistic practices into research to enhance creativity in academia?
At which university did this visionary of arts and education teach?
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Answers from the Previous Edition’s Trivia Question:
Question: Which Middle Eastern news network gained worldwide recognition for its coverage following the events of September 11, 2001?
Answer: Al-Jazeera
Quotes of the Month
“Misunderstood! It is a right fool's word. Is it so bad then to be misunderstood? Pythagoras was misunderstood, and Socrates, and Jesus, and Luther, and Copernicus, and Galileo, and Newton, and every pure and wise spirit that ever took flesh. To be great is to be misunderstood.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson
“The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.” – Albert Camus
Check out my Link Tree page HERE!
If you are inspired by my writing and would like to support independent writers, artists and scholars like me, I have a Buy Me a Coffee Page here. Thank you so much reading and I appreciate your company and support!