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Inviting the messy: Drawing methods and 'children's voices'

Eldén, Sara LU (2013) In Childhood 20(1). p.66-81
Abstract
This article engages with the current debate in childhood research on children’s voices and representation in the research process. In this discussion, the frequent use of drawing techniques in childhood research is often highlighted as especially problematic. While agreeing that there is a need to critically examine the concept of ‘children’s voices’ and the production of ‘voices’ in research, the author argues for the possibility of and need for reflexive and creative research enabling the ‘voicing’ of others – such as children – and the possibilities of a sociological analysis of drawing methods. The argument is elaborated with a presentation and discussion of a current research project on children and care in Sweden. The author... (More)
This article engages with the current debate in childhood research on children’s voices and representation in the research process. In this discussion, the frequent use of drawing techniques in childhood research is often highlighted as especially problematic. While agreeing that there is a need to critically examine the concept of ‘children’s voices’ and the production of ‘voices’ in research, the author argues for the possibility of and need for reflexive and creative research enabling the ‘voicing’ of others – such as children – and the possibilities of a sociological analysis of drawing methods. The argument is elaborated with a presentation and discussion of a current research project on children and care in Sweden. The author discusses two of the methods used in interviews with children – a draw-your-day exercise and concentric circles of closeness – which together help the child and the researcher narrativize practices and relationships of care that would otherwise be obscured. While the narratives that emerge cannot be viewed as providing ‘authentic’ insights into the caring situation of the child, they can be regarded as contributing to a more complex and multi-layered picture of care, which is a valuable contribution to the research field of family and interpersonal relationships. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
complexity of voice, care, children’s voices, sociology, sociologi, visual methods
in
Childhood
volume
20
issue
1
pages
66 - 81
publisher
SAGE Publications
external identifiers
  • wos:000317124700006
  • scopus:84873930971
ISSN
0907-5682
DOI
10.1177/0907568212447243
project
Relationer kring omsorg bortom familjen (FAS 2010-0505)
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
ec663293-766d-4ccf-8b4f-32147fbe60a2 (old id 3460640)
alternative location
http://chd.sagepub.com/
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 10:05:43
date last changed
2022-04-19 22:28:21
@article{ec663293-766d-4ccf-8b4f-32147fbe60a2,
  abstract     = {{This article engages with the current debate in childhood research on children’s voices and representation in the research process. In this discussion, the frequent use of drawing techniques in childhood research is often highlighted as especially problematic. While agreeing that there is a need to critically examine the concept of ‘children’s voices’ and the production of ‘voices’ in research, the author argues for the possibility of and need for reflexive and creative research enabling the ‘voicing’ of others – such as children – and the possibilities of a sociological analysis of drawing methods. The argument is elaborated with a presentation and discussion of a current research project on children and care in Sweden. The author discusses two of the methods used in interviews with children – a draw-your-day exercise and concentric circles of closeness – which together help the child and the researcher narrativize practices and relationships of care that would otherwise be obscured. While the narratives that emerge cannot be viewed as providing ‘authentic’ insights into the caring situation of the child, they can be regarded as contributing to a more complex and multi-layered picture of care, which is a valuable contribution to the research field of family and interpersonal relationships.}},
  author       = {{Eldén, Sara}},
  issn         = {{0907-5682}},
  keywords     = {{complexity of voice; care; children’s voices; sociology; sociologi; visual methods}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{66--81}},
  publisher    = {{SAGE Publications}},
  series       = {{Childhood}},
  title        = {{Inviting the messy: Drawing methods and 'children's voices'}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0907568212447243}},
  doi          = {{10.1177/0907568212447243}},
  volume       = {{20}},
  year         = {{2013}},
}